# AI words, made useful

R09 · Edition 1 · October 2026

Definitions reuse the Useful beginner workbook. Examples below are original fictional practice, not observed tool or participant results. This is a reading resource; it does not connect an AI service, calendar or payment.

Read the glossary in the academy at /academy/glossary. Its current Site audience applies to web links. This text remains usable without that connection.

## AI assistant

software that can generate or transform material in response to inputs; its output still needs judgement.

**Practice example:** You ask for a short email from fictional notes. The software provides a starting version; you check the facts and tone before using it.

**Related written lesson:** Explore an AI assistant (/academy/practice/chatgpt)

## Prompt

the request/instructions you give it.

**Practice example:** “Turn these fictional notes into three actions. Mark missing owners as unknown.” The request states the task and the shape of the answer.

**Related written lesson:** Write a clearer brief (/academy/practice/clear-brief)

## Context

information relevant to the request.

**Practice example:** “This update is for a university study group. They need to know what to prepare.” That information helps the request fit its reader.

**Related written lesson:** Add useful context (/academy/practice/examples-boundaries)

## Model

the underlying system producing the response.

**Practice example:** Compare two attempts on the same fictional task. Judge the checked results rather than expecting identical wording.

**Related written lesson:** Compare tools on one task (/academy/practice/compare-tools)

## Draft

a starting version, not automatically ready to use.

**Practice example:** A first email still contains [name] and an unsupported date. Replace the placeholder and check the source before using the email.

**Related written lesson:** Improve a written draft (/academy/practice/writing)

## Hallucination

plausible output that is incorrect or unsupported.

**Practice example:** The fictional notes say the deadline is unconfirmed, but the draft says “Friday”. The confident wording does not make that date supported.

**Related written lesson:** Check before you trust (/academy/check-result)

## Source

material that supports a claim.

**Practice example:** The supplied notes state a meeting is on Tuesday. Find that line before adding Tuesday to an action list.

**Related written lesson:** Check a claim against a source (/academy/practice/research)

## Upload

send a file to a service; check suitability first.

**Practice example:** Use a fictional practice file. Before sending it to a service, check whether that service and the file are approved for the task.

**Related written lesson:** Practise with a document (/academy/practice/documents)

## Automation

a configured process that performs steps.

**Practice example:** A planned workflow could turn an approved input into a reminder draft. Specify the trigger, checking step and stopping point before connecting anything.

**Related written lesson:** Choose a safe next action (/academy/practice/actions)

## Agent

software that may plan/use tools to pursue a task; actual capabilities vary.

**Practice example:** For a proposed page-building task, name the files it may change and the decisions where it must pause for review. Do not assume every tool can do this.

**Related written lesson:** Brief a delegated task (/academy/practice/delegation)

## Permission

authorisation for an action or data use.

**Practice example:** “Read this fictional page, but ask before editing or publishing.” The allowed action and the review boundary are different parts of the brief.

**Related written lesson:** Set a browser-task boundary (/academy/practice/browser-task)

## Integration

a connection between tools.

**Practice example:** A proposed calendar connection would need supported accounts and an authorised setup. A button or a written plan does not mean that connection is working.

**Related written lesson:** Review action boundaries (/academy/practice/actions)

## Token

a unit used by some AI systems to process text; beginners need not count tokens for these introductory exercises.

**Practice example:** You can improve a beginner request by making the task and relevant inputs clear. These practice exercises do not ask you to calculate a token budget.

**Related written lesson:** Keep your request clear (/academy/practice/clear-brief)

## Plan

a provider's subscription/access tier.

**Practice example:** Write down the capability your task needs. Check the provider’s current access and cost before deciding whether an upgrade helps.

**Related written lesson:** Make a free-or-paid decision (/academy/practice/free-or-paid)

## Placeholder

a visible marker for information you must supply.

**Practice example:** [Your name] is a detail you must replace. Keep missing details visibly unknown rather than letting a draft invent them.

**Related written lesson:** Try your first conversation (/academy/first-conversation)

Keep human judgement in the loop. Check the source, access and permission before using or sharing a result.