Plain-language starting points for the AI and technology conversation.
AI agent
Software that can use information and tools to carry out steps toward a goal. Its actual capabilities depend on the system, permissions and task.
Inference
Using a trained model to produce an output from an input.
On-device AI
AI processing performed on the device itself. A product may also use cloud services for other features.
NPU
A neural processing unit: hardware intended to accelerate certain neural-network workloads.
Physical AI
AI applied to machines that perceive and act in a physical environment.
Simulation
A modeled environment used to explore or test behavior. A successful simulation still needs appropriate real-world validation.
Driver assistance
Features that help with parts of driving while the driver remains responsible under the feature’s stated conditions. Consult the exact vehicle instructions.
Battery-electric vehicle
A vehicle driven by electric motors using energy stored in a rechargeable battery, without an internal-combustion engine for propulsion.
Blockchain
A system for maintaining linked records across participating computers according to a network’s rules.
Smart contract
A program that runs according to the rules of its blockchain environment. The name does not by itself establish a legal agreement.
Multimodal model
A model designed to work with more than one kind of input or output, such as text and images.
Context window
The amount of information a model can consider in a particular interaction. A larger context limit does not guarantee perfect recall or reasoning.