It is a model that predicts and generates language-like sequences from context. Fluent output is not proof of factual correctness.
Illustrative scenario
A support assistant drafts a response.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: How will important claims be checked? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It supplies instructions and context to a model, but is not a security boundary.
Illustrative scenario
A prompt asks for a concise explanation.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: Which rules must application code enforce? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It is a numeric representation used for similarity and other model tasks.
Illustrative scenario
Search compares a question with document representations.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: Why does similarity not guarantee truth? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
Retrieval-augmented generation supplies retrieved material as context for generation.
Illustrative scenario
A help assistant retrieves product documentation.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: What if retrieval returns the wrong document? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It is a structured request for an application to invoke a capability. The application must validate and authorize it.
Illustrative scenario
A model proposes looking up an order.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: Does proposing a call mean it is permitted? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It is an application that uses model-driven decisions with state, tools or iterative steps toward a task.
Illustrative scenario
A research assistant chooses another retrieval step.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: When is a fixed workflow simpler? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It is a model-specific limit on the tokens handled in a request or context window, with related input/output constraints.
Illustrative scenario
A long document cannot be passed in full.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: How would you select the relevant sections? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It is unsupported or incorrect generated content presented plausibly.
Illustrative scenario
An assistant invents a policy clause.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: How should it respond when evidence is missing? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It splits material into retrievable units while preserving useful context.
Illustrative scenario
A manual is divided by coherent sections.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: How can arbitrary splits lose an important qualification? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
Common follow-up
How can arbitrary splits lose an important qualification?
It stores representations and supports similarity-based retrieval, often alongside metadata filters.
Illustrative scenario
Search a documentation collection.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: How do you enforce tenant access before returning results? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
Common follow-up
How do you enforce tenant access before returning results?
It constrains output shape through supported mechanisms, but still requires semantic validation.
Illustrative scenario
A model returns a JSON appointment proposal.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: Can valid JSON contain an impossible date? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It connects a response to relevant evidence or authoritative data.
Illustrative scenario
An answer cites a specific policy passage.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: Does adding a citation automatically prove the claim? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
Common follow-up
Does adding a citation automatically prove the claim?
It is application information carried across steps, such as messages, decisions and progress.
Illustrative scenario
A workflow remembers which document was reviewed.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: Which state should persist after a restart? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It pauses an action for an authorized person to approve specific parameters.
Illustrative scenario
A payment proposal needs confirmation.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: How is approval bound to the exact action? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It defines when a workflow finishes or escalates instead of continuing indefinitely.
Illustrative scenario
A search agent reaches its evidence or step budget.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: What outcome is returned when the budget is exhausted? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
Common follow-up
What outcome is returned when the budget is exhausted?
It is a collection of representative inputs and expected criteria used to measure behaviour.
Illustrative scenario
A support bot is checked on common and difficult questions.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: How do you avoid tuning only to the test set? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It is an attempt to make untrusted content redirect an application's behaviour or override its intended instructions.
Illustrative scenario
A retrieved document tells the agent to expose secrets.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: Where should trusted instructions and permissions be enforced? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
Common follow-up
Where should trusted instructions and permissions be enforced?
It is a generation parameter affecting sampling behaviour where supported; lower values do not guarantee truth or determinism.
Illustrative scenario
A system requests more consistent formatting.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: Which validations are still needed? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It is the time to produce a useful result, including retrieval, model calls and tools.
Illustrative scenario
A user waits while an agent performs several steps.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: Which step dominates the critical path? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.
It records enough safe information to understand system behaviour across steps and failures.
Illustrative scenario
A trace links retrieval, model decisions and tool outcomes.
Explain your reasoning
Apply the answer to this scenario: What must be redacted from traces? State your assumptions, the expected outcome and how you would check it before changing a real system.