A Plain-English Guide to AI's Fast-Moving Vocabulary
TechCrunch has compiled a living glossary to help readers keep up with the rapidly evolving terminology used in artificial intelligence, covering concepts like AGI, AI agents, and API endpoints. The guide aims to demystify jargon such as 'opaque recurrence,' a reasoning technique in OpenAI's Astra model that has raised safety concerns. It is regularly updated as the field progresses, serving as a reference for builders, investors, and casual observers alike.
The glossary serves as a dynamic reference point, updated continuously to mirror the fast-paced evolution of AI terminology. It addresses the confusion surrounding foundational concepts like AGI, noting that even leading labs such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind hold differing interpretations of what constitutes artificial general intelligence.
Beyond core definitions, the guide clarifies practical tools like API endpoints, which act as software interfaces for automation, and chain-of-thought reasoning, a step-by-step problem-solving method used by advanced models. It also distinguishes general AI agents from specialized coding agents, providing clarity for developers and investors navigating this rapidly shifting landscape.
This glossary could significantly lower the barrier to entry for understanding AI, potentially empowering policymakers, journalists, and everyday users to engage in more informed debates about the technology's risks and benefits. By clarifying ambiguous terms like AGI and safety-critical concepts like opaque recurrence, it may reduce the likelihood of misinformed public panic or poorly targeted regulation. Ultimately, accessible language could foster a more balanced societal dialogue, helping stakeholders distinguish between genuine capabilities and marketing hype.