Everyone at one time or the other has been to meetings where these huge tech buzzwords are spoken. That sounds impressive and we all know something about these words except the fact that if anyone asks us about the same, we won’t be able to explain them nicely and at that moment we realize that we also don’t know much about these words. If that person is you, then you’re not alone and I welcome you to this blog where we discuss a few of these buzzwords in a bit of detail.

It is a jargon detox blog. Just some clear explanations of the most commonly used buzzwords and what they really mean. Let’s dive into them one by one.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Definition: AI is a broader term for machines which stimulate human intelligence. This means getting to learn from the data itself, recognising patterns and decision making. In layman terms, it is when the software makes decisions like humans do but in a faster way and with the help of more data.

AI is not a single stone standing. It involves machine learning, NLP, deep learning etc. AI is all around you be it voice assistants, product recommendations and spam filters.

Generative AI

Definition: It is a branch of AI which creates new content like code, music, text. It is able to do so because it has learnt to do all of this and hence creates them. The most famous example of it is ChatGPT that writes like a human. In the Tech world, GitHub is also very popular as it helps the developers write the code speedily.

Now, this is not automation, it is creation too. This is huge as it opens the door in marketing, development, education, content creation and many more. It is a very powerful tool but yet not perfect. The output still needs to be reviewed by the humans.

Extended Reality (XR)

Definition: XR is an umbrella term which includes all real and virtual environments combined and machine human interactions are created by the computer technology. This includes Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality.

VR (Virtual Reality) – fully immersive digital worlds

AR (Augmented Reality) – digital overlays on the real world

MR (Mixed Reality) – interactive blending of real and virtual

XR is vital as it shows up in employee training like safety drills, Virtual collaboration and Retails Experiences like Try on Apps. For now, XR is mostly niche outside of gaming, training and high budget demos.

Blockchain

Definition: It is a decentralized database ( like a ledger) where transactions are noted and recorded across various computers. Once they are added, they cannot be changed easily. It’s best known for powering cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as NFTs (Non‑Fungible Tokens). NFTs are unique digital assets stored on a blockchain that prove ownership of a specific item, and unlike regular currency, they can’t be exchanged on a one‑to‑one basis because each one is different.

Apart from crypto currencies, they are into supply chain transparency, digital identity and Voting systems etc. The use cases are still evolving but the tech is real. In short, Blockchain is a secure and transparent way of recording data across a network, without needing a central authority.

Web3

Definition: It is the next version of the internet where one has more control over his/her data, identity and money without requiring to go through big companies like Google, FB or any bank. It uses blockchain technology for letting people own things like digital money or crypto money, Art like NFTs and accounts that are not controlled by any one firm. Though it is still at the early stage. UX is old fashioned and regulation is unpleasant. The adoption is still limited.

My honest view is that it has a high potential yet it is more talked about instead of being used to its full capacity.

So, these were 5 such buzzwords from the technology world. I will keep on coming up with new words every now and then. But the final take away from this blog is learning new terms that go around and come to our ears yet we are still not able to understand them fully. So, from now on if anyone throws a term like one of these, I am sure that you will not feel left out.

The one thing to remember is that tech moves fast but the hype of it moves faster. The clarity and critical thinking are timeless though.