I've spent years in tech and there's a pattern I keep seeing: smart people confidently misusing AI terms. Here's a quick breakdown.

1. "AI" vs "Machine Learning"

AI is the goal. ML is a method to get there. Saying "we use AI" is like saying "we use transportation." A bicycle and a Boeing 747 are very different things.

2. "The algorithm"

There's no single algorithm. There are thousands. When someone says "the algorithm decided," what they usually mean is "a specific model trained on specific data produced this output."

3. "Hallucinations"

LLMs don't hallucinate. They generate statistically probable text. They have no concept of truth. Calling it a hallucination implies the AI knows what's real and got confused. It doesn't.

4. "Sentient AI"

We're not close. Current AI has the self-awareness of a calculator. A very impressive calculator, but still.

5. "AI will take your job"

More accurate: people who know how to use AI will outperform people who don't. The tool doesn't replace you — it amplifies you.

I break down stuff like this every week in The Signal — plain English, no hype, just what you need to know to stay sharp.