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.
572 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 · November 2026
New in the AI Dictionary
Fresh language for the newest shifts in AI, explained without the jargon.
AI detection and response
a cybersecurity practice and product category for continuously discovering and monitoring AI systems and agents, detecting attacks or unsafe behavior during operation, and supporting investigation, containment, or other response
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harness optimization
the iterative, evaluation-guided improvement of the prompts, tools, memory, skills, control flow, and other external components that organize an AI agent's behavior, often while keeping the underlying model fixed
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reverse game theory
the application of mechanism design to AI systems: starting with a desired outcome and designing rules, incentives, information flows, or penalties so that self-interested or strategic agents find compliant behavior rational
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autonomous vulnerability discovery
the use of AI agents to independently inspect code or systems, generate vulnerability hypotheses, reproduce and validate flaws, assess exploitability, and sometimes propose and test patches
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