Words explained
The AI words you are most likely to hear, in plain English.
- AI (artificial intelligence)
- Computer programs that do tasks we used to think needed a person, such as writing, recognising pictures or understanding speech.
- Chatbot or AI assistant
- A program you can type or talk to, which writes back in sentences.
- Prompt
- The question or instruction you type into a chatbot.
- Generative AI
- AI that makes something new, such as text, pictures, music or a voice.
- Hallucination
- When an AI tool makes up something false and presents it as true.
- Deepfake
- A fake video, photo or recording made with AI to look or sound like a real person.
- Voice clone
- A copy of a real person's voice, made with AI from a recording of them speaking.
- Phishing
- A scam message that pretends to be from a trusted organisation to get your details or money.
- Two-step verification
- A second check when you sign in, such as a code sent to your phone. Never share that code.
- Chat history
- The record a chatbot keeps of your conversations. You can usually delete it.
- Algorithm
- A set of steps a computer follows to make a choice, such as which video to show you next.
- App store
- The official place to get apps for your phone: the App Store on an iPhone, Google Play on an Android phone.
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