8d • Resources
HMAIAY™ Glossary — AI Terms You Actually Need
You don't need to know everything about AI to use it well but knowing these terms will help you follow along, ask better questions, and feel more confident in conversations about AI.
Bookmark this post. Come back to it whenever something sounds unfamiliar.
A
Algorithm — A set of instructions a computer follows to complete a task. Think of it as a recipe — each step runs in order to produce a result.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) — Technology designed to mimic human thinking, helping with tasks like writing, searching, summarizing, and decision-making.
Automation — Using AI to handle repetitive tasks without doing them manually each time. Example: scheduling posts, sorting emails, generating summaries.
B
Bias — When AI reflects unfair patterns from the data it learned from. Always apply your own judgment to what AI produces.
C
Chatbot — An AI program designed to simulate conversation. Some are basic; others (like ChatGPT or Claude) can help with complex tasks.
Chat History — The record of your past conversations with an AI tool. You can often turn this off for privacy — recommended when sharing anything sensitive.
Context Window — How much text an AI can hold in mind at once. In very long conversations, earlier parts may be "forgotten." Starting a new chat reset this.
Copyright — Your legal right to own your creative work. AI-generated content exists in a gray area — always save your original drafts with timestamps.
D
Deepfake — AI-generated images, audio, or video that make it appear someone said or did something they didn't. Think critically about what you see online.
G
Generative AI — AI that creates new content — text, images, music — based on your instructions. ChatGPT, Claude, and Midjourney are examples.
H
Hallucination — When AI states something confidently that is incorrect. It's not lying — it's pattern-matching gone wrong. Always verify important facts.
I
Iteration — Refining your prompt to get a better response. If the first answer isn't right, adjust and try again. This is normal and expected.
L
Large Language Model (LLM) — The technology behind ChatGPT, Claude, and similar tools. Trained on massive amounts of text to generate human-like responses.
M
Machine Learning — A type of AI that improves over time by learning from data, rather than following fixed rules.
N
Natural Language Processing (NLP) — How AI understands and produces human language. It's why you can type a plain question and get a clear response.
O
Open Source — Software whose code is publicly available. Some AI tools are open source (free and transparent); others are proprietary (owned by a company).
Output — What AI gives you back after you send a prompt. Better input = better output.
P
Placeholder Text — A temporary word used instead of sensitive information. Example: [Client Name] instead of a real person's name.
Prompt — The instruction or question you give an AI tool to guide its response. The clearer your prompt, the more useful the output. (See The Prompt Guide for the full method.)
T
Timestamp — The date and time recorded when a file is saved. Saving your original work in a timestamped document helps establish that you created it.
Token — A small piece of text that AI processes to generate a response. AI tools have limits on how many tokens they can handle at once.
Training Data — The content an AI studied to learn how to respond. The quality of training data shapes everything the AI produces.
This glossary is part of the HMAIAY™ Method by C. LaDalle.
· Start Smart with AI
· The Prompt Guide
· The AI Decision Journal
· The AI Field Guide
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HMAIAY™ Glossary — AI Terms You Actually Need
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