AI Vocabulary
AI Vocabulary Guide
A practical glossary of AI terms for professionals. No jargon. No gatekeeping. Five parts, 25 terms, built for professional women navigating AI at work.
Back to resourcesAI vocabulary is moving fast. This guide gives you the terms you need to follow the conversation at work without pretending the jargon is obvious.
The goal is not to memorise everything. It is to understand enough to hold your ground in any room.
Part 01
The Foundations
Generative AI
AI that creates new content such as text, images, videos or audio. Instead of simply finding information, it generates something new based on what it has learned from existing data.
Large Language Model (LLM)
The technology behind tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. It has been trained on huge amounts of text so it can predict and generate human-like language.
Machine Learning
A way of teaching computers to recognise patterns from large amounts of data. Rather than following fixed rules, the system improves its performance by learning from examples.
Foundation Model
A large AI model trained on broad information from across the internet, books and other sources. It acts as a base that can be adapted for many different tasks, from writing emails to analysing documents.
Multimodal
An AI system that can work with more than one type of information at the same time. For example, it might understand text, images, audio and video together.
Part 02
New AI Workplace Vocabulary
Context Engineering
The process of giving AI the right information, files, instructions and examples before asking it to do a task. Many experts believe this matters more than writing the perfect prompt.
Agentic AI
AI that can make decisions and take actions to achieve a goal. Instead of waiting for every instruction, it can figure out some of the steps for itself.
Human-In-The-Loop
A human reviews or approves AI-generated work before it is used. This helps catch mistakes and keeps people accountable for important decisions.
AI Agent
An AI system that can carry out tasks on your behalf instead of simply answering questions. It might research a topic, update a spreadsheet and send an email without needing constant instructions.
AI Coworker
An AI that works alongside you as part of your daily workflow. The idea is that AI becomes less like a tool and more like a digital team member.
Part 03
Terms Everyone Suddenly Started Using
Vibe Coding
Building software by describing what you want in plain English and letting AI write most of the code. The term became popular because people can now create apps without traditional programming skills.
AI Native
A company built with AI as a core part of how it operates from day one. Unlike older businesses, it does not need to retrofit AI into existing systems.
AI Slop
Low-quality content created quickly with AI and published in large volumes. It often feels generic, repetitive and lacking in original thought.
AI Wrapper
A product that uses another company's AI model underneath its own interface. Many AI startups are essentially building a better experience on top of ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.
Synthetic Media
Images, videos, voices or other media created by AI instead of humans. Deepfakes are one example of synthetic media.
Part 04
How Modern AI Systems Actually Work
RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
A technique where AI looks up information from documents or databases before answering. This helps it use current information instead of relying only on what it learned during training.
Tool Calling
When AI decides to use another piece of software to complete a task. For example, it might search a database, send an email or create a calendar event.
MCP (Model Context Protocol)
A standard that allows AI systems to connect with software, databases and tools. Think of it as a common language that helps different AI tools work together.
Computer Use
AI controlling a computer in a similar way to a human. It can click buttons, type into forms and navigate software interfaces.
Memory
The ability for AI to remember information from previous conversations or tasks. This allows interactions to become more personalised over time.
Part 05
Advanced Terms You'll Hear More Often
AI Stack
The collection of AI tools, models and software a person or company uses. Similar to a marketing stack, but focused on AI technology.
Open Source AI
AI models that are publicly available for anyone to use, modify or build upon. This allows developers and companies to customise AI rather than relying on closed platforms.
Model Drift
When an AI system becomes less accurate over time because the world changes. Information, behaviours and trends evolve, but the model's training remains fixed.
Context Drift
When an AI gradually loses focus on the original task during a long conversation or project. The longer the interaction continues, the more likely it is to wander off course.
Reasoning Model
An AI model designed to spend more time thinking through a problem before answering. Instead of responding immediately, it works through steps to improve accuracy on complex tasks.
25 terms - that's a wrap
You Now Know More Than Most.
AI vocabulary is moving fast. The goal is not to memorise everything - it is to follow the conversation well enough to hold your ground in any room.
You are not behind. You just needed the right starting point.