RAG
Retrieval-Augmented Generation; a technique that lets an AI search a specific database for facts before answering a question.
In Plain English
RAG is like giving an AI an open-book test. Instead of relying solely on what it memorized during training (which might be outdated), the AI first searches your specific documents for the right information, then reads that information to generate an answer. This drastically reduces the chance of the AI making things up. It is how a company can let an AI answer customer questions using only the official company handbook.
Real-World Example
An employee asking an internal HR chatbot about the vacation policy, and the chatbot securely reading the 2024 employee handbook to answer.