Plain-English definitions for AI and everyday terms, including the symbols you see in AI chats.
Asterisks around a word (*this*) add emphasis, like saying it a little louder. Quotes ("this" or 'this') mean these exact words: find them, keep them, or replace them. Two asterisks on each side (**this**) usually show up as bold. ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and Claude understand all of these, and plain words work too: "The most important part is the date."
Typing *'this'* or '*this*' when chatting to AI? One mark is enough. Our full answer, with examples you can copy, is in the guide:
Computer systems that can perform tasks that usually need human thinking—like writing, translating, or recognizing patterns. In a text message, "AI" almost always means this, as in "I asked AI." (On many phones it looks just like the name Al.)
What does AI mean in text messages? →A program you can talk to by typing or speaking. ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot are all chatbots.
A ready-made sentence or paragraph you can paste into an AI chat to get a specific kind of answer.
When private information is exposed or stolen from a company or system without permission.
Statements that clarify what content is and is not. For example, saying educational content is not tax advice.
The no-cost version of a service. Usually has usage limits or slower responses compared to paid plans.
AI that creates new text, images, or audio based on what it has learned from training data.
When an AI makes up facts, names, or numbers that sound real but are not true. Always double-check important details.
The underlying technology behind chatbots. It reads and predicts language patterns to generate responses.
AI that can work with more than just text—such as images, audio, or video.
A scam where someone pretends to be a trusted company to steal your passwords or personal information.
The text you type or speak into an AI tool to get a response. Better prompts get better answers.
Quotes ("this") point the AI at exact words to find, keep or replace. Asterisks (*this*) stress a word; two on each side (**this**) usually show as bold. Plain words like "the most important part is..." work too.
Quotes or asterisks? Read the guide →A simple way of formatting text with symbols. AI chats use it: **this** means bold, a # at the start of a line means a heading, and a - starts a bullet. The app usually hides the symbols. If you see them after copying an answer, ask the AI for "plain text with no formatting."
Why AI answers show ** bold →A cap on how many times you can use a service in a given period. Common on free tiers.
A warning sign that something might be a scam, mistake, or problem.
A unique nine-digit number issued by the U.S. government. Never share it in AI chats.
A security feature that requires a second code—usually sent to your phone—in addition to your password.
AI that can imitate a person’s voice after hearing a short sample. Used in scams and entertainment.
A feature some AI tools have that lets them look up current information on the internet in real time.
Neither is wrong, but you don't need both marks. Use quotes ('this' or "this") when you mean exact words, and asterisks (*this*) when you want to stress a word. Mixing them, like *'this'* or '*this*', won't confuse ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude, but it doesn't help either. Our guide to quotes or asterisks when chatting to AI has examples you can copy.
Asterisks around a word (*this*) add emphasis, like saying the word a little louder. Quotes ("this" or 'this') mean exact words: find, keep, or replace these words. ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and Claude understand both, and plain words like "the most important part is..." work just as well.
AI chats format text with Markdown. Two asterisks on each side (**like this**) mean bold, and a # at the start of a line means a heading. The app usually turns these into bold text and headings. If you copy the answer somewhere else, you may see the symbols. Ask "Give me that as plain text with no formatting" to remove them.
No. AI reads your message the way a person would. Type a normal sentence. Quotes and asterisks are optional helpers, not required.
It is when an AI states something false, like a made-up fact, number, or source, as if it were true. Double-check names, dates, money amounts, and citations before you rely on them.
A prompt is simply what you type or say to the AI. Clear prompts that say who it is for, what you want, and how long it should be get better answers.