Definition
Plain language
Turning data into a plain stream of characters so it can be sent or stored.
As stated in the literature
Encoding structured data into a byte or text sequence for transmission; here, the assistant serializes tool descriptions into the model's prompt, which is the delivery path that can diverge from what's rendered on screen.
Also called: serialize, serializes, serialized
Why it matters: It lets data travel or be stored, but if the serialized version differs from what a person sees on screen, hidden content can slip through unnoticed.
For example, a list of names and ages in a program can be turned into a single line of text so it can be saved to a file or sent across the internet.
Heard on the show
“It learned to fan out when work could fan out, and to serialize when it couldn't.”Episode 028 — Teaching a Model to Hire Copies of Itself: Recursive Agent Optimization