Learn · Glossary
The no-BS AI glossary.
Every buzzword your vendor used on the last call, explained like a normal person would.
A
- AI agent
- AI set up to do a defined job in steps, often using your tools — not just answer a question.
- e.g. Reads your calendar each morning and emails you a summary.
- API
- A doorway that lets one piece of software ask another for data or actions.
- e.g. Your CRM's API lets an agent read new leads.
- API key
- A password for software. Whoever has it can use your account — so it never belongs in a chat or a webpage.
- Automation
- Fixed rules that run the same way every time. No judgment involved.
- e.g. When a form is submitted, add a row and send an email.
C
- CI/CD
- An automatic pipeline that tests code and deploys it the same way every time.
- Context window
- How much text an AI model can 'see' at once. Big codebases don't fit, which is why AI fixes can miss the bigger picture.
F
- Fine-tuning
- Further training a model on your examples. Usually unnecessary for small businesses — good instructions go a long way.
H
- Hallucination
- When AI states something false with full confidence. The reason a human reviews anything that matters.
- Human-in-the-loop
- A person approves the AI's work before it takes effect.
- e.g. Drafts wait for your OK before posting.
I
- Integration
- A connection that lets two of your tools share data.
L
- LLM (large language model)
- The engine behind ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. Predicts useful text from what you give it.
M
- MVP
- Minimum viable product — the smallest version that proves people want it. Great for learning, not built to scale.
O
- OAuth
- The 'Sign in with Google/Microsoft' kind of connection. Grants access without sharing your password.
P
- Prompt
- The instructions you give an AI. Clear prompts get clear results.
R
- RAG
- Retrieval-augmented generation: the AI looks up your documents before answering, so answers are grounded in your info.
- Read-only access
- Permission to look, not change. The safe default for most AI agents.
S
- Staging environment
- A private copy of your app for testing changes before customers see them.
T
- Technical debt
- Shortcuts that save time now and cost more later. AI-built MVPs tend to have a lot.
- Token
- A chunk of text AI providers count to bill usage. Roughly ¾ of a word.
V
- Vibe coding
- Building software by describing what you want to an AI and accepting what comes back. Fast for prototypes, risky for production.
W
- Webhook
- A message one system sends another the moment something happens.
- e.g. Stripe tells your app a payment succeeded.
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