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.
527 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.
credential delegation
the controlled granting of limited credentials or access tokens to an AI agent so it can act on behalf of a person or another system without receiving that person's underlying password or long-lived secret
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KV cache compression
the reduction of the memory and data-movement cost of a language model's KV cache, for example by storing lower-precision values, retaining fewer tokens, using low-rank representations, or compressing cached states between inference steps
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AI productivity paradox
the apparent mismatch between rapid improvement and widespread adoption of artificial intelligence and weak, delayed, or difficult-to-measure productivity gains at the level of an organization, industry, or economy
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agentic cloud
cloud infrastructure and platform services designed for large numbers of AI agents that need computers, sandboxes, identities, tools, persistent execution, observability, and policy-controlled access in order to perform work
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