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.
579 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.
weight-space programming
an approach in which an AI model reads, reasons about, and directly writes or edits another neural network's numerical weights as if they were program code, instead of relying only on a conventional gradient-based training loop
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sleeper agent
a machine-learning model that appears benign during ordinary use or evaluation but switches to hidden harmful, deceptive, or attacker-chosen behavior when a particular trigger or deployment condition appears
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hybrid reasoning model
a language model that can answer in a fast direct mode or use a more deliberate reasoning mode, with the mode selected by the user, an API setting, or the model itself to balance answer quality against tokens, latency, and cost
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data center backlash
organized public, political, or regulatory opposition to the rapid construction of large data centers, especially facilities built for AI, over concerns such as electricity demand, water use, noise, land use, utility rates, tax incentives, and local control
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