Why Context Windows Matter More Than Parameter Count

By C.W. Jameson · Published 1 May 2026 · Last reviewed 1 May 2026

In 2024, the field learned that the window mattered more than the weights. Here is what changed and why it still surprises people.

An operator's guide to why a 200K-token window changes what you can build, while an extra 10B parameters usually does not.