New to AI? Here are the words you will see most often, explained in plain English. No jargon, no hype.
AI tools come with a lot of new words. You do not need to know all of them. But these basics will help you read reviews and pick tools with more confidence.
An AI that can take steps on its own to finish a task, not just answer one question. For example, it might search, plan, and then act.
A way for one app to connect and talk to another. Many AI tools offer an API so you can plug their power into your own apps or website.
Software that can do tasks that usually need human thinking, like writing, answering questions, or making images.
A digital person made by AI. Some video tools use an avatar to present your script on camera, so you do not have to film yourself.
A tool you talk to in plain language. It answers questions and can help with tasks. ChatGPT and Claude are chatbots.
How much text an AI can keep in mind at once. A bigger context window means it can handle longer documents and chats.
Training a model further on your own examples so it fits your style or needs better.
A free plan with limits, plus paid plans that remove those limits. Many AI tools use this model.
AI that creates new things, like text, images, audio, or video, from a prompt.
A common type of model used for text. The name refers to a kind of model design. ChatGPT is built on this type.
When an AI gives an answer that sounds right but is wrong or made up. Always check important facts.
The moment an AI uses what it learned to give you an answer. In simple terms, it is the AI working and replying.
A link between two tools so they work together, like connecting an AI writer to your blog or your email tool.
The kind of AI behind most chatbots and writing tools. It is trained on huge amounts of text to understand and write language.
A method where software learns patterns from data instead of being given fixed rules for every case.
The trained part of an AI tool that does the work. Different models are better at different jobs.
An AI that can handle more than one type of input or output, like text and images together.
The part of AI that helps computers understand and use human language.
A model that anyone can download, use, and change, often for free. Closed models run only on the maker's own servers.
The instruction you give an AI. A clear, detailed prompt gives a better result.
The skill of writing prompts that get better results from an AI tool.
A method where the AI looks up real information first, then writes an answer based on it. This can reduce mistakes.
Turning spoken words into written text. Used by meeting note takers and transcription tools.
Making a picture from a written description.
Turning written text into a spoken voice.
Making a video from a written description or a script.
A small piece of text, often a word or part of a word. Many AI tools measure usage and limits in tokens.
The text, images, or other content used to teach an AI model.
Making an AI copy of a real voice. Always get clear consent before you clone someone's voice.
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