Elementary Artificial Intelligence (AI) Glossary of Terms
Welcome to the Elementary AI Glossary!
This glossary is made just for curious young learners like you. Here, you’ll find fun and friendly explanations of what artificial intelligence (AI) is all about. From chatbots to robots, each card helps you learn what a word means, why it matters, and how it shows up in your world—like school, games, and everyday tech. Ready to explore? Let’s level up your tech talk!
What it Means:
A list of steps a computer follows to solve a problem.
Why It Matters: It helps apps and websites give you what you need quickly.
Example: YouTube recommending your next video.
What it Means:
A smart computer that can learn and help you.
Why It Matters: AI helps power fun and learning apps.
Example: An app that helps you write a story.
What it Means:
Understanding how AI works and how to use it safely.
Why It Matters: Helps you use AI tools smartly and responsibly.
Example: Knowing when it’s okay to use AI for help with homework.
What it Means:
Computer pictures added to real life through a screen.
Why It Matters: Makes learning fun by adding digital info to real things.
Example: Using an app to see a dinosaur in your living room.
What it Means:
When a machine does something by itself.
Why It Matters: It helps save time and effort.
Example: A robot vacuum cleaning the floor.
What it Means:
When a computer makes unfair choices because of bad data.
Why It Matters: We want technology to treat everyone fairly.
Example: A photo app that doesn’t recognize all skin tones.
What it Means:
A computer helper that chats with you like a person.
Why It Matters: It helps answer questions fast.
Example: Asking a bot to explain a science word.
What it Means:
Instructions that tell a computer what to do.
Why It Matters: Programs make apps and games work.
Example: A math app that teaches you step by step.
What it Means:
When a computer sees and understands pictures.
Why It Matters: Helps technology know what it’s looking at.
Example: An app that scans your homework.
What it Means:
Facts that a computer uses to learn.
Why It Matters: AI needs good data to work well.
Example: Your math quiz scores help a learning app improve.
What it Means:
Keeping your information safe from people that want to do harm.
Why It Matters: It’s important to protect your personal info online.
Example: Using a password to keep your account secure.
What it Means:
A fake video made by AI to look real.
Why It Matters: It’s important to know what’s real and what’s not.
Example: A video of someone saying something they never said.
What it Means:
Being kind and safe when using technology.
Why It Matters: It helps apps and websites give you what you need quickly.
Example: YouTube recommending your next video.
What it Means:
AI figuring out how someone feels.
Why It Matters: Can help apps respond better to people.
Example: A game that knows when you’re happy or sad.
What it Means:
Doing the right thing with technology.
Why It Matters: We must be kind, safe, and fair when using AI.
Example: Not using AI to cheat on a test.
What it Means:
When a computer knows who you are by your face.
Why It Matters: Helps unlock devices or keep things safe.
Example: Your tablet unlocking with your face.
What it Means:
AI that makes new things like stories or pictures.
Why It Matters: It helps people create faster.
Example: An app that draws a picture from your words.
What it Means:
When a person checks what AI is doing.
Why It Matters: Helps make sure AI does things the right way.
Example: A teacher checking what a computer graded.
What it Means:
A big AI trained to understand and talk like people.
Why It Matters: Helps power tools like ChatGPT.
Example: An AI that writes poems or explains ideas.
What it Means:
When a computer learns by using lots of data.
Why It Matters: It helps apps improve over time.
Example: A drawing app that learns what you like to draw.
What it Means:
How computers understand human language.
Why It Matters: It helps chatbots and translators work.
Example: A chatbot that answers your questions.
What it Means:
A computer system that works like a brain.
Why It Matters: It helps AI learn from data.
Example: An AI that learns to tell cats from dogs.
What it Means:
Finding things that repeat.
Why It Matters: Helps AI figure out what comes next.
Example: An app that knows your favorite songs.
What it Means:
Asking smart questions to get better answers from AI.
Why It Matters: Good prompts help AI help you.
Example: Asking ‘Give me 3 fun facts about dolphins’ instead of just ‘dolphins’.
What it Means:
A tool that suggests things you might like.
Why It Matters: It helps find new things faster.
Example: Netflix showing shows you might enjoy.
What it Means:
A machine that can do tasks, sometimes using AI.
Why It Matters: Robots help with jobs at home, in school, or in space!
Example: A robot toy that follows your voice.
What it Means:
Tools that learn and help you better over time.
Why It Matters: These tools can help you in school and at home.
Example: A smart speaker that plays your favorite song.
What it Means:
When a computer understands spoken words.
Why It Matters: Lets you talk to your device.
Example: Asking your phone to call mom.
What it Means:
Examples used to teach AI.
Why It Matters: Good data helps AI learn better.
Example: Feeding a drawing app thousands of pictures.
What it Means:
A pretend world you can explore with a headset.
Why It Matters: Great for games and learning.
Example: Exploring space through VR goggles.