Glossary

Plain-English definitions for AI and everyday terms.

AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Computer systems that can perform tasks that usually need human thinking—like writing, translating, or recognizing patterns.

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.

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.