Words I keep hearing
The short answer: you do not need to learn these words to use AI. This page is here for when someone says one and you would like to know what it means. Each one has a short, plain definition, and some link to a guide that goes deeper.
A
AI assistant
A chatbot built to help with everyday jobs like answering questions, writing a note, or planning a week. ChatGPT is one example. Read more: What is ChatGPT, in plain English
AI overview
A short AI-written answer that some search engines show at the top of the results page. It can be useful, but it can also be wrong, so check anything important. Read more: Can I trust what AI says?
Algorithm
A set of steps a computer follows to do a job, such as deciding which videos to show you next. The word is older than AI, and not every algorithm is AI.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Computer software that can do things that normally take human thinking, like understanding speech or writing a sentence. Today most people mean chatbots and similar tools. Read more: AI for your parents: start here
B
Bias
A pattern where an AI leans toward some views or groups because of the information it learned from. It is one reason to double-check what AI tells you.
C
Chat history
The list of your past conversations with a chatbot. Many apps save it so you can go back, and you can usually delete it. Read more: What is ChatGPT, in plain English
Chatbot
A program you chat with by typing or talking. It answers in everyday language. Read more: AI for your parents: start here
ChatGPT
A popular AI assistant made by a company called OpenAI. You can start using it for free. Read more: What is ChatGPT, in plain English
Claude, Copilot, and Gemini
Other AI assistants. Claude is made by Anthropic, Copilot by Microsoft, and Gemini by Google. They work in much the same way as ChatGPT.
D
Data controls
Settings that let you choose what an app does with your conversations, such as whether they can be used to improve the AI. Look in the app’s Settings. Read more: What is ChatGPT, in plain English
Deepfake
A fake photo, video, or recording made with AI, often of a real person. It can look or sound very real. Read more: Can I trust what AI says?
F
Free plan
The version of an AI app you can use without paying. It usually has limits, and the paid plans are optional. Read more: What is ChatGPT, in plain English
G
Generative AI
AI that creates new things, such as text, pictures, or audio, instead of only sorting or finding what already exists. Chatbots and image generators are examples.
H
Hallucination
When a chatbot states something false in a confident voice. It is not lying on purpose. It is a mistake that sounds sure of itself. Read more: Can I trust what AI says?
I
Image generator
An AI tool that makes a picture from a description you type. The pictures can look like real photos, so not every realistic image is real. Read more: Can I trust what AI says?
L
Large language model (LLM)
The kind of AI program behind most chatbots. It learned from huge amounts of writing and predicts which words should come next, which is how it can write back to you.
M
Machine learning
A way of building software that learns patterns from many examples instead of following a fixed list of instructions. Most modern AI is built this way.
Model
The AI program itself, after it has been trained. Companies release new models from time to time, and each may behave a little differently.
P
Phishing
A message, email, or text that pretends to be from a real company or person to trick you into sharing a password, code, or money. AI can make these messages sound more convincing. Read more: Staying safe with AI
Prompt
What you type or say to a chatbot. Plain, everyday wording works fine, and you can follow up if the answer is not what you wanted. Read more: What is ChatGPT, in plain English
S
Sources
The websites, articles, or studies an answer comes from. A chatbot that shows its sources lets you open them and check for yourself. Read more: Can I trust what AI says?
T
Training
How an AI learns, by studying large amounts of text, images, or audio before you ever use it. Some companies may also use conversations to train it, which is what your data controls can turn off. Read more: What is ChatGPT, in plain English
V
Voice assistant
A helper you talk to out loud, like Siri or Alexa. It listens for your request and answers or does a simple task. Read more: Making everyday life easier with AI
Voice cloning
Using AI to copy how a real person sounds. Scammers can use a short clip to make a call sound like someone you love, which is why a family code word helps. Read more: How to spot an AI voice scam