Resources / AI Insights / Glossary
AI and Agent Basics
Plain-English explanations of AI agents, models, prompts, memory, and the tools that help them work.
20 plain-English definitions for people getting started.
AI Agent
An AI agent can work toward a goal by choosing steps and using tools.
Read the definitionAI Application Basics
An AI application combines a model with instructions, information, and sometimes tools.
Read the definitionAI Hallucination
An AI hallucination is an answer that sounds sure but includes made-up or incorrect details.
Read the definitionAgent Loop
An agent loop is the repeated cycle an AI agent uses to make progress on a task.
Read the definitionAgent Memory
Agent memory is information an AI agent saves so it can use it again later.
Read the definitionContext Engineering
Context engineering is choosing the information an AI needs for a task.
Read the definitionContext Window
A context window is how much information an AI can consider at one time.
Read the definitionFine-tuning
Fine-tuning adapts a model using examples so it can better handle a particular kind of task.
Read the definitionModel Context Protocol
Model Context Protocol is a shared way for AI apps to connect to tools and information.
Read the definitionMultimodal AI
Multimodal AI can work with more than one kind of information, such as text and images.
Read the definitionPrompt
A prompt is the instruction or information you give an AI for a response.
Read the definitionPrompt Injection
Prompt injection is an attempt to trick an AI into ignoring its instructions.
Read the definitionRAG
RAG lets an AI look up relevant information before it answers.
Read the definitionReasoning Model
A reasoning model spends more effort working through difficult questions before answering.
Read the definitionStructured Output
Structured output asks an AI to return information in a predictable format.
Read the definitionToken
A token is a small piece of text an AI model reads or produces.
Read the definitionToken Usage & Cost
Token usage counts the text an AI processes, and some services use it to calculate cost.
Read the definitionTool Calling
Tool calling lets an AI ask an app to run an approved action or get information.
Read the definitionReAct
ReAct is a pattern where an AI alternates between reasoning and taking actions.
Read the definitionVibe Coding
Vibe coding means describing what you want and using AI to help write the code.
Read the definition