SOC 2
A security compliance framework that verifies an organization's controls for data security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Look for SOC 2 compliance in AI tool providers.
Why it matters
When you trust a tool with your data, you want proof it's actually secure, not just promises. SOC 2 is an independent audit that verifies a company follows solid practices for protecting information. It matters most for businesses evaluating AI vendors, since a SOC 2 report signals the provider takes security seriously. Seeing that badge can be the deciding factor between two otherwise similar tools.
In practice
Your company is choosing between two AI note-taking apps that record meetings. Both look great, but only one has a SOC 2 report showing audited controls for data security and confidentiality. Your IT team picks that one, confident that meeting transcripts won't leak or be mishandled. The report is your shortcut to trusting a vendor without personally inspecting every server and password policy they run.
Related terms
AI Alignment
The research challenge of ensuring AI systems pursue goals that are beneficial to humans. Misaligned AI could technically achieve its objective while causing unintended harm. Alignment research aims to make AI reliably helpful, harmless, and honest.
Bias (in AI)
Systematic errors in AI outputs reflecting prejudices in training data. Can manifest as gender stereotyping, racial assumptions, or cultural insensitivity in generated content.
Constitutional AI
A training approach where AI models are given a set of principles (a 'constitution') and learn to self-critique and revise their outputs to comply with those principles. Reduces reliance on human feedback for safety alignment.
Data Poisoning
A security attack where malicious data is deliberately introduced into AI training sets to manipulate model behavior. Can cause models to produce biased outputs, bypass safety filters, or leak sensitive information.
GDPR
The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation governing how personal data is collected, stored, and processed. Important when choosing AI tools that handle your data.
Guardrails
Safety mechanisms built into AI systems to prevent harmful, biased, or off-topic outputs. Includes content filters, topic restrictions, output validation, and behavioral boundaries that keep AI responses within acceptable limits.