Learning AI Terminology, Made Simple for Election Administrators

Using old-school learning tricks to make sense of today’s AI terminology

When I started to use and learn about artificial intelligence tools, one thing I noticed is that I almost always felt like I was operating from a deficit when it came to my available vocabulary of AI terms.

I’d reach for words or phrases when discussing AI – and I’d come up blank.

All of this made me think: What’s the best way to learn words and phrases? For me, growing up, it was always creating flashcards. State capitals, science terms, and on and on. As an election administrator, I made flashcards to quickly learn the names and locations of all the polling locations in my county.

(For what it’s worth, I’ve even remembered some of the things I learned by using flashcards. Capital of Kentucky? Frankfort. Purpose of mitochondria? … Okay, well, maybe not many of the science terms.)

No matter whether you’ve implemented AI into your daily workflow or you are taking a more skeptical approach to the technology, I think it’s very helpful to have a basic understanding of the words and phrases that are being used.

With the help of glossaries developed and published by Andreessen Horowitz, Queen’s University Belfast and Dr. Carah Ong Whaley's Spring 2024 AI and Governance Class at the University of Virginia, I created a set of flash cards with AI terms that can be downloaded, printed and used to help you learn the definitions of some of the AI terminology we often hear being used.

I hope the flashcard format is helpful. Print the documents two-sided and then cut them into smaller cards – maybe even find some heavier paper so you can take them along with you like you’d take your set for your biology class.

Just want to see the terms next to the provided definitions? That can be found here.

If there’s a word or phrase you think should be included that you can’t find in the glossary, send me a note. Likewise, if you come across any words or phrases with definitions that deserve some additional examination, reach out.

As we continue to post and build resources to help election administrators manage the impact of AI, I hope you’ll send ideas and thoughts our way.

Housed in Arizona State University’s Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory and partnered with The Elections Group, the AI & Elections Clinic serves as a hub for research, guidance and resources on how artificial intelligence intersects with election administration.