| Term | Definition | | Agentic AI | Agentic AI refers to autonomous AI systems that can set their own goals, plan, and execute sequences of actions - often coordinating tools or other agents - to achieve real-world objectives. |
| AGI | Artificial general intelligence is a (still hypothetical) AI with human-level, domain-general understanding and the ability to learn and apply knowledge to any intellectual task. |
| AI | Artificial intelligence is the broad field of building machines or software that perform functions we normally associate with human intelligence, from pattern recognition and language understanding to planning and decision-making. |
| AI agent | An AI agent is an AI system designed to autonomously perceive its environment, make decisions, and take actions toward achieving specific goals. |
| Albedo | The amount of solar radiation reflected from an object or surface, often expressed as a percentage. |
| Alternative Medicine | Specific movements that often rely on rejecting evidence-based public health practices (e.g., anti-vaxxers, vaccine hesitancy). |
| AMOC | The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a vital system of ocean currents, including the Gulf Stream, that transports warm surface water from the tropics to the North Atlantic, regulating global climate. It acts like a "conveyor belt," bringing heat to Europe and the Arctic, while deep, cold water returns south. |
| Anthropogenic | Made by people or resulting from human activities. Usually used in the context of emissions that are produced as a result of human activities. |
| Anti-Intellectualism | A general mistrust of scientists, experts, and academic institutions. |
| Antigen | Any substance foreign to the body that evokes an immune response. |
