Continuously updated · AI Dictionary
The language of AI,
clearly defined.
A field guide to the words changing how we build, work and think—from token and transformer to AI agents and vibe coding.
544 terms
10 topics
1847–2026 timeline
Built as a living reference
Clear words. Useful context.
01
Plain English firstThe definition comes before the jargon.
02
Usage over hypeEstablished meanings are separated from new or informal ones.
03
Show the trailSources appear on entries as they are reviewed.
Latest update · October 2026
New in the AI Dictionary
Fresh language for the newest shifts in AI, explained without the jargon.
instruction stack
the combined, ordered set of instructions and control information supplied to an AI agent, including system and developer messages, project or rules files, tool definitions, skills, policies, and environmental context in addition to the user's prompt
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SaaS apocalypse
the prediction or market narrative that generative AI and AI agents will weaken the software-as-a-service business model by automating work, reducing the number of paid software seats, enabling companies to build their own applications, or replacing narrowly focused subscription products
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cognitive surrender
the uncritical adoption of an AI system's answer, recommendation, or reasoning as one's own judgment, with little independent scrutiny or verification
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headless software
software whose core functions can run without a dedicated graphical user interface and be controlled programmatically; in AI systems, APIs, command-line commands, or agent protocols let an AI agent use those functions without clicking through screens
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