Jargon Journal
Cut Through the Jargon. Accelerate Your Catalog Strategy.
A place to bring clarity to industry speak—decode terms and master the lingo.
Generative AI has taken the world by storm in just a few short years, unleashing a flood of new tools—and even more new jargon. What do we call the new AI-powered search engines? To some they’re “AI search,” to others “LLM search,” and to others “conversational search.” Sometimes these terms mean the same thing; other times they signal subtle distinctions—and lately, they’re often used interchangeably. That’s where CatalogIQ’s Jargon Journal comes in: your guide through the evolving soup of AI buzzwords, cutting through the chaos one term at a time.
| Jargon [Term] | Description |
|---|---|
| Agentic AI | AI systems capable of autonomous decision‑making and action—perceiving, reasoning, learning, and executing tasks like product discovery, recommendations, and complete checkouts on behalf of users. |
| AI Search Engines | Search tools enhanced with generative AI capabilities—short for Generative AI Search Engine—understanding natural language input to generate answers or synthesize info in real time. |
| Answer Engines | Platforms designed to provide immediate, concise answers to user queries—powered by AI and NLP—without requiring users to click through links. |
| Autonomous Ecommerce | A broad term referring to AI systems that independently manage and execute purchases on behalf of users, minimizing or eliminating manual input. |
| Conversational Search | Search interfaces that allow users to interact via natural, dialogue‑like exchanges—engaging in chat‑style Q&A rather than keyword lookup. |
| Programmatic Commerce | Purchases made automatically by connected devices (e.g., a smart coffee machine ordering beans when supplies run low) using preset rules and learning. |
| Zero‑Click Buying | A predictive model where AI or retailers anticipate your needs and send products automatically—customers can keep what they like and return the rest. |
| Zero‑Click Commerce / Zero‑Click Result | Transactions completed directly within an interface—like search results or a chat—without visiting an external site; in e‑commerce, purchases occur inside the AI or search tool. |
| Zero‑Click Ordering | AI‑driven automatic reordering of everyday items via voice assistants or agents, reducing friction in replenishment purchases. |
Subscribe to Beyond the Catalog
Explore how generative AI is transforming product data - solving long-standing challenges to drive search, discovery, and conversion - and reshaping ecommerce far beyond the catalog.