Core Systems
Read full definition & business contextAI Agent
A bounded software system that uses a language model, approved instructions, and connected tools to complete a defined operational task under human oversight.
PLAIN-ENGLISH REFERENCE
Business AI Glossary
Clear, consistent definitions of technical AI and automation concepts written for business leaders—without vendor hype.
Knowledge Systems
Read full definition & business contextRetrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
An architecture that searches your approved company documents first and requires the AI model to answer using only those retrieved passages with source citations.
Governance & Safety
Read full definition & business contextHuman-in-the-Loop (HITL)
A workflow design pattern where an accountable person reviews, edits, or approves an AI-prepared output before a final action is taken.
Automation
Read full definition & business contextDeterministic Workflow
Software logic that follows fixed, predictable rules—producing the exact same output every time for a given input.
Governance & Safety
Read full definition & business contextHallucination
When a generative AI model produces a plausible-sounding statement that is factually incorrect or unsupported by approved source data.
Governance & Safety
Read full definition & business contextLeast-Privilege Access
Granting an AI system or automation only the minimum data access and tool permissions required to perform its specific task.