WellWired Glossary
Plain-English AI Glossary
Simple explanations for the AI terms you hear every day. Search, filter, and explore at your own pace.
Accessibility
practicalDesigning tech so everyone can use it, including people with disabilities.
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Accuracy
technicalHow often a model gives the correct answer.
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Agent
toolsAn AI that can take steps to complete a task.
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AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)
basicsA hypothetical AI that could perform any intellectual task a human can.
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AI Assistant
basicsAn AI tool that helps with tasks by conversation.
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AI Ethics
safetyThinking carefully about right and wrong uses of AI.
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AI Safety
safetyPractices that keep AI systems reliable and non-harmful.
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AI Safety
safetyThe field focused on making AI systems safe and reliable.
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AI Tool
toolsA product that uses AI to help you do something.
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Alexa
toolsAmazon's voice assistant found in Echo devices.
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Algorithm
basicsA step-by-step set of rules that tells a computer what to do.
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Alignment
safetyMaking sure AI behaves in line with human goals and values.
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Analytics
practicalMeasuring and studying data to understand patterns.
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Annotation
technicalLabels or notes added to data to make it usable for training.
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Anthropic
toolsThe company that makes the Claude AI assistant.
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API
practicalA way for software to talk to other software.
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Apple Intelligence
toolsApple's suite of AI features built into its devices.
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Apps
practicalPrograms you install on phones or computers.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
basicsSoftware that can perform tasks that normally require human thinking, like understanding language or spotting patterns.
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Assistant App
toolsA mobile or web app that provides AI assistance.
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Assistant Memory
safetyWhen an AI remembers information to personalize future chats.
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Assistant Privacy
safetyHow a chatbot or assistant handles your personal information.
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Assistant Settings
practicalOptions that control how an AI assistant behaves.
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Assistant Tools
practicalAI features that help with daily tasks.
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Assistive Technology
practicalTools that help people with disabilities use tech more easily.
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Attention
technicalA method that helps models focus on the most important parts of input.
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Audio
technicalSound data that AI can analyze or generate.
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Augmented Reality (AR)
practicalDigital content layered on top of the real world.
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Autocomplete
practicalA feature that finishes a word or phrase as you type.
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Autocorrect
practicalA feature that fixes typos as you type.
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Automation
practicalUsing software or machines to do tasks automatically.
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Autonomous Vehicle
practicalA car or vehicle that can drive itself using sensors and AI.
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Autonomy
technicalThe ability for a system to act on its own.
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Backup
safetyA copy of your files in case something goes wrong.
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Benchmark
technicalA standard test used to compare models.
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Bias
safetyUnfair or one-sided results caused by skewed data or design choices.
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Billing
practicalHow payments are charged and recorded.
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Blockchain
technicalA shared digital record that is hard to change.
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Bounding Box
technicalA rectangle that marks where an object is in an image.
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Branding
practicalHow a company presents itself visually and emotionally.
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Chain of Thought
technicalA step-by-step reasoning process used to solve a problem.
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Changelog
practicalA list of changes in a new release.
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Chatbot
basicsA program you can talk to in text or voice.
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ChatGPT
toolsAn AI assistant from OpenAI that answers questions and helps with writing.
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Claude
toolsAn AI assistant from Anthropic known for clear, friendly explanations.
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Cloud Computing
practicalUsing remote servers over the internet instead of your own device.
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Clustering
technicalGrouping similar items without pre-made labels.
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Community
practicalPeople who use and improve a tool together.
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Compliance
safetyFollowing laws and rules.
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Computer Vision
technicalAI that understands images and videos.
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Consent
safetyClear permission for a company to use your data.
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Content
practicalThe text, images, and media on a website or app.
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Content Policy
safetyRules that describe what content is allowed.
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Context Window
technicalHow much text a model can consider at once.
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Cookies
safetySmall files that websites store to remember you.
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Copilot
toolsAn AI helper from Microsoft that assists with writing, coding, and tasks.
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Copy
practicalWritten text used in marketing or on websites.
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Crawler
technicalA program that scans and collects web pages for search engines.
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Creative Tools
toolsAI that helps make art, music, or writing.
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Cryptocurrency
practicalDigital money secured by cryptography and blockchain.
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Curriculum
practicalA planned set of lessons.
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Customer Service
practicalHelping users solve problems or answer questions.
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Cybersecurity
safetyThe practice of defending computers and networks.
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DALL-E
toolsAn OpenAI tool that generates images from text.
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Dashboard
practicalA screen that summarizes key numbers and trends.
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Data
basicsInformation that a computer can store and use.
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Data Drift
safetyA gradual change in data that can reduce model accuracy.
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Data Minimization
safetyCollecting only the data you actually need.
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Dataset
technicalA collection of data used for training or testing.
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Dataset Shift
safetyWhen real-world data changes so a model performs worse.
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Decentralization
technicalSpreading control across many computers instead of one owner.
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Decision Making
practicalChoosing between options based on information.
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Deep Learning
technicalA type of machine learning that uses very large neural networks with many layers.
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Deepfake
safetyAI-made media that looks real but is actually fake.
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Deployment
technicalPutting an app or model into real-world use.
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Design
practicalPlanning how something looks and works.
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Developer Tools
practicalSoftware that helps people build apps or models.
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Device
practicalA piece of hardware you use, like a phone or tablet.
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Digital Assistant
practicalSoftware that helps you with tasks like scheduling or writing.
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Documentation
practicalWritten guides explaining how to use something.
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Drift
safetyChanges over time that can hurt model performance.
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Drone
practicalA small flying robot controlled by software or a person.
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Edge Computing
technicalProcessing data on or near the device instead of in a distant cloud.
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Education
practicalStructured learning with lessons and practice.
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Embedding
technicalA way to turn text or images into numbers that capture meaning.
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Encryption
safetyScrambling data so only the right people can read it.
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Entity
technicalA real-world thing in data, like a person or place.
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Evaluation
technicalTesting an AI to see how well it performs.
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Explainability
technicalHow well we can understand why an AI made a decision.
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Facial Recognition
safetyAI that identifies people by their face.
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Fact-Checking
safetyVerifying AI output against trusted sources.
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Fairness
safetyEnsuring AI treats people equally and without discrimination.
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FAQ
practicalA list of frequently asked questions and answers.
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Few-Shot
technicalDoing a task after seeing a few examples.
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Fine-Tuning
technicalTraining an existing model on a smaller, specific set of data to specialize it.
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Forecast
practicalA prediction about the near future.
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Forums
practicalOnline spaces where people discuss questions and ideas.
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Fraud
safetyDeceiving people to steal money or information.
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Freemium
practicalA free version with paid upgrades for extra features.
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Future of AI
practicalHow AI might develop and affect society over time.
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GDPR
safetyA European privacy law that gives people more control over their data.
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Gemini
toolsGoogle's AI assistant, integrated into Google services and apps.
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Generalization
technicalWhen a model works well on new data it has not seen before.
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Generative AI
basicsAI that creates new content like text, images, or audio.
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Google DeepMind
toolsGoogle's AI research lab behind systems like AlphaFold and Gemini.
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Governance
safetyHow organizations set rules and oversight for AI.
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GPT
technicalA family of language models made by OpenAI that powers tools like ChatGPT.
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Grammar Check
practicalA tool that fixes grammar and sentence structure.
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Grounding
technicalLinking AI outputs to real sources or evidence.
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Guardrails
safetySafety rules that limit what an AI can do.
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Guides
practicalStep-by-step instructions for users.
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Hallucination
safetyWhen an AI confidently makes something up that is not true.
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Hardware
technicalThe physical parts of a computer or device.
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Headset
practicalA wearable device for VR or AR experiences.
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Health Tech
practicalTechnology used to support health and medical care.
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Hosting
practicalWhere a website or app lives on the internet.
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Human in the Loop
safetyA person reviews or approves AI outputs.
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Identity Theft
safetyWhen someone uses your personal details to pretend to be you.
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Image Editing
toolsAI tools that remove, add, or change parts of an image.
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Image Generation
toolsAI that creates images from text descriptions.
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Image Recognition
technicalAI that identifies objects or people in images.
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Inclusive Design
practicalDesigning products that work for people with different needs.
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Indexing
technicalOrganizing content so it can be found quickly.
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Inference
technicalUsing a trained model to make predictions or outputs.
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Infrastructure
technicalThe underlying hardware and services that run software.
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Integration
practicalConnecting tools so they work together and share data.
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Interface
practicalThe part of a product you see and use.
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Internet of Things (IoT)
practicalEveryday devices connected to the internet.
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Interpretability
technicalHow easy it is to understand a model's behavior.
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Keyboard
practicalThe typing tool where predictive text and autocorrect appear.
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Keywords
practicalWords or phrases people search for.
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Knowledge Base
practicalA collection of documents used to answer questions.
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Knowledge Graph
technicalA structured map of facts and how they relate.
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Language Model
technicalA model that predicts and generates text.
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Large Language Model (LLM)
technicalA model trained on huge amounts of text so it can generate and understand language.
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Latency
technicalThe delay between a request and a response.
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Learning
practicalGaining knowledge through study or practice.
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Lessons
practicalIndividual learning units within a course.
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License
practicalLegal terms that say how software or data can be used.
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Llama
toolsA family of open models released by Meta.
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Localization
practicalAdapting content for a specific country or culture.
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Low-Code
practicalBuilding software with minimal hand-written code.
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Machine Learning
basicsA way for computers to learn from examples instead of being told every rule.
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Maintenance
technicalKeeping systems updated and running smoothly.
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Malware
safetyHarmful software designed to steal data or damage devices.
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Marketing
practicalSharing information about a product to reach people.
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Memory
safetyStored information that can shape future AI responses.
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Meta AI
toolsMeta's AI team and products used across Facebook, Instagram, and more.
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Metaverse
practicalA concept for shared online virtual worlds.
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Metrics
technicalNumbers used to measure performance.
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Microsoft Copilot
toolsMicrosoft's AI assistant inside Windows and Office.
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Midjourney
toolsA popular AI image generator with a distinct artistic style.
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Misinformation
safetyFalse information that spreads, sometimes accidentally.
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Mixed Reality (MR)
practicalA blend of real and virtual elements that interact together.
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Model
technicalThe trained system that produces AI results.
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Model Card
safetyA document explaining how a model works and its limits.
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Model Monitoring
safetyWatching how a model performs over time.
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Moderation
safetyFiltering content to reduce harmful or unsafe outputs.
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Multilingual
practicalWorking in more than one language.
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Multimodal
technicalAI that works with more than one type of data, like text and images.
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Narrow AI
basicsAI built to do one specific task very well.
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Natural Language Processing (NLP)
technicalTechnology that helps computers understand and generate everyday human language.
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Neural Network
technicalA computer system built from layers of tiny calculators that work together to recognize patterns.
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No-Code
practicalBuilding software with visual tools instead of programming.
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Object Detection
technicalAI that finds and locates items within an image.
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Open Source
practicalSoftware with code that anyone can view, use, and improve.
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Open Source Model
technicalAn AI model whose code or weights are publicly available.
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OpenAI
toolsThe company behind ChatGPT and the GPT models.
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Opt-Out
safetyA choice to stop data collection or marketing.
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Optimization
technicalImproving a system to get better results, like higher accuracy or lower cost.
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Oversight
safetyHuman review of AI decisions and behavior.
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Parameter
technicalA value inside a model that helps decide its output.
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Performance
technicalHow fast and reliable a system is.
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Personalization
practicalCustomizing experiences based on your preferences or behavior.
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Phishing
safetyA scam that tricks people into giving personal information.
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Planning
practicalDeciding what steps to take to reach a goal.
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Policy
safetyRules that guide how something should be used.
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Precision
technicalHow many of the model's positive results are actually correct.
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Prediction
technicalAn estimate of what will happen based on data.
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Predictive Text
practicalSuggestions that guess what you will type next.
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Pricing
practicalHow much a product or service costs.
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Privacy
safetyKeeping your personal information under your control.
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Process
practicalA repeatable way of doing something.
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Productivity
practicalGetting more done with the same effort.
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Prompt
basicsThe message or instruction you give an AI.
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Prompt Engineering
practicalWriting prompts in a way that improves AI outputs.
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Prompt Library
practicalA saved collection of prompts you can reuse.
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Publishing
practicalMaking content available to the public.
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Quality
technicalHow good or useful an output is.
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RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
technicalA method where AI retrieves facts from a source before writing an answer.
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Ransomware
safetyMalware that locks your files until you pay.
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Reasoning
technicalUsing steps and logic to reach an answer.
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Recall
technicalHow many of the real positives the model finds.
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Recommendation System
practicalAI that suggests items you might like.
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Reinforcement Learning
technicalLearning by trial and error using rewards.
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Release
practicalA new version of software or a model.
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Reliability
technicalHow consistently a system works as expected.
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Reporting
practicalSharing results and metrics in a clear format.
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Research
technicalCareful study and testing to learn new things.
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Retrieval
technicalFinding relevant information before generating an answer.
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Retrieval Augmented Generation
technicalAnother name for RAG, where AI pulls facts from sources before writing.
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Reward Model
technicalA model that scores outputs so AI learns what is good.
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Risk
safetyThe chance that something could go wrong.
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Robot
practicalA machine that can perform physical tasks on its own or with guidance.
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SaaS (Software as a Service)
practicalSoftware you use through a browser instead of installing.
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Sampling
technicalChoosing outputs based on probabilities instead of one fixed answer.
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Samsung Galaxy AI
toolsSamsung's AI features for Galaxy phones.
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Scalability
technicalHow well a system handles growth in users or data.
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Scams
safetyTricks designed to get money or data from you.
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Scenario
practicalA possible situation used for planning or testing.
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Search
practicalFinding information by matching queries to documents.
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Security
safetyProtecting systems and data from harm.
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Semantic Search
technicalSearch that focuses on meaning rather than exact keywords.
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Sensor
technicalA device that measures something like motion, light, or temperature.
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Sentiment Analysis
technicalAI that detects emotion or tone in text.
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SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
practicalImproving a site so it ranks higher in search results.
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Serving
technicalDelivering model outputs to users in real time.
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Simulation
technicalA computer-made model of a real-world system.
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Siri
toolsApple's voice assistant for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
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Sitemap
practicalA file that lists pages on a website for search engines.
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Smart Home
practicalA home with connected devices you can control digitally.
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Smart Speaker
practicalA speaker with a voice assistant built in.
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Smartphone
practicalA phone that runs apps and connects to the internet.
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Software
practicalPrograms that run on computers or phones.
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Sora
toolsA video generation model from OpenAI.
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Spatial Computing
technicalComputing that understands and uses physical space.
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Speech Recognition
technicalTechnology that turns spoken words into text.
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Spell Check
practicalSoftware that finds and fixes spelling mistakes.
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Stable Diffusion
toolsAn open source model used for generating images.
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Subscription
practicalPaying regularly for ongoing access to a service.
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Suggestions
practicalHelpful recommendations shown by software.
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Summarization
toolsAI that shortens long text into key points.
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Supervised Learning
technicalTraining with labeled examples where the right answer is known.
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Support
practicalHelp from a company or community when something goes wrong.
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System Prompt
technicalInstructions given to an AI to define its role and behavior.
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Temperature
technicalA setting that controls how creative or predictable an AI is.
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Templates
practicalPre-made structures you can fill in.
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Text
technicalWritten words that can be analyzed or generated by AI.
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Text Generation
toolsAI that writes new text based on a prompt.
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Text to Speech (TTS)
practicalTechnology that reads written text out loud.
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Time Saving
practicalReducing the time a task takes.
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Token
technicalA small chunk of text that a language model processes.
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Tools
practicalApps or features used to get tasks done.
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Tracking
safetyRecording user activity to understand behavior or show ads.
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Training
technicalThe process of teaching an AI by showing it lots of data.
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Training Data
technicalThe examples used to teach an AI model.
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Transfer Learning
technicalReusing a model trained on one task to help with another task.
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Transformer
technicalA neural network design that is especially good at language tasks.
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Translation
practicalConverting text or speech from one language to another.
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Translation Model
technicalA model specialized in translating between languages.
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Transparency
safetyBeing clear about how AI works and how data is used.
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Trust
safetyConfidence that a system is reliable and safe.
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Unsupervised Learning
technicalLearning patterns from data without labels.
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Uptime
technicalHow often a system is available and working.
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Usability
practicalHow easy a product is to use.
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User Experience (UX)
practicalHow a product feels to use.
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Vector
technicalA list of numbers that represents something like a word or image.
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Vector Database
technicalA database built to store and search embeddings.
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Versioning
technicalNumbering changes to software over time.
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Video Generation
toolsAI that creates short videos from text or images.
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Virtual Reality (VR)
practicalA fully digital environment you can look around in.
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Voice Assistant
practicalAn AI you speak to for help with tasks or questions.
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Voice Bot
toolsAn automated phone assistant you can speak with.
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Voice Cloning
safetyAI that can mimic a person's voice using samples.
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Wallet
practicalAn app or device that stores your cryptocurrency keys.
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Watermarking
safetyAdding a hidden mark to AI content to show its source.
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Wearable
practicalA device you wear that tracks information or provides features.
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Web3
technicalA vision of the internet built on decentralized technologies.
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Webhook
practicalAn automated message sent when something happens in an app.
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Workflow
practicalThe steps you take to complete a task.
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Workflow Automation
practicalConnecting apps so tasks happen automatically.
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Writing Tools
toolsAI features that help you write more clearly and quickly.
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Zero-Shot
technicalDoing a task without seeing specific examples first.
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