What do the acronyms mean in technology?

Technology is often spoken of in shorthand abbreviations and acronyms. We all know that AI means Artificial Intelligence, but there are many others that are not always known, or understood; indeed often the understanding of the meaning is limited. In this article, our technology lawyers James Tumbridge and Robert Peake outline some key tech abbreviations and why they are important to understand.

1. ADSL – Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

ADSL is a type of digital subscriber line (DSL) technology, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional voiceband modem can provide. Providers usually market ADSL as an internet access service primarily for downloading content from the internet.

Whilst many businesses have already moved away from ADSL, not all have. Therefore, understanding this matters because it is foundational technology for providing high-speed internet access to small businesses. The key is that the internet access is always on, enabling always-on broadband connections. If your business loses the connection, it can affect you in many ways, so do look out for what support you have in your contract from providers, and what insurance you have for disruption to your broadband service.

2. API – Application Programming Interface

An API is a connection between computers or between computer programs. In many scenarios, developers will talk about an API and how they can connect one service to another via it. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software, and in contract terms you need to ensure what level of success and testing will take place before you accept an API as delivered, and when payment for the development is due.

3. IMAP – Internet Message Access Protocol

The IMAP is a standard protocol used in email. The clients use it to retrieve email messages from a mail server. IMAP was designed with the goal of permitting complete management of an email box by multiple email clients, with clients generally leaving messages on the server until the user explicitly deletes them. Virtually all modern e-mail clients and servers support IMAP, which along with the earlier POP3 (Post Office Protocol) are the two most prevalent standard protocols for email retrieval.

The use of IMPA now needs to be considered in cybersecurity terms. By default, IMAP transmits login credentials (usernames and passwords) in plain text, making them susceptible to interception – and depending on your use, that is something to think about carefully. It can be a potential security risk if IMAP is not properly configured. Talk to your IT team about the connections and what is encrypted.

4. ISDN – Integrated Services Digital Network

This is a communication standard for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other services over public switched telephone networks. Work on the standard began in 1980 so it is a commonly heard term. ISDN may have been replaced with digital subscriber line (DSL) on your system, but it is still a system in use for a little while longer. In the UK, you need to be thinking about whether you are ready for the ‘switch-off’. Large numbers of businesses in the UK are still using ISDN telephone lines, but the UK’s ISDN telephone network will be switched off in December 2025. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is also being switched off in January 2027.

5. GPT – Generative Pre-trained Transformer

The GPT letters are most likely associated in your mind with ChatGPT, a chatbot developed by OpenAI that can generate human-like responses to user prompts and questions. It uses Generative Pre-Trained Transformers: a set of algorithms/learning models, to generate new text, images or audio based on learnings from large, inputted volumes of training data. There are many challenges to ensure low-risk and compliant use of AI and training data. Find more information on privacy and copyright concerns here. Read more on AI regulation here.

6. ML – Machine Learning

ML is a discipline within the field of AI that allows machines to automatically learn from data and past experiences to identify patterns and make predictions with minimal human intervention. The increased availability of machine learning is part of what has revolutionised the interest in AI. What you need to be thinking about is what was used for training, and what may still be used. You should also consider if what you are sharing might be lost to your control and what that means for your business. Read more about AI risks here.

7. NLP – Natural Language Processing

This is the process by which computers analyse spoken and written language. These applications automatically extract, classify, and label elements of text or voice data and assign a meaning. Rather than examining text word-by-word, these models have a close understanding of what each word means in the context of a full sentence. The use of this is fundamentally altering online experiences, and often for the better, but you need to be considering its reliability and what you use it for, because an error could harm your reputation.

8. LLM – Large Language Model

LLMs are a specific application of natural language processing. Moving beyond basic textual analysis, LLMs use AI algorithms and large datasets to understand, summarise and generate content. LLMs underpin many conversational AI chatbots and are also used to complete text-based tasks, such as text generation, content summary, and even translation. Our past notes on what to think about before using AI are very relevant here, because you cannot make a proper risk assessment for your business without understanding how these models are trained and used.  Consider our article on how to assess risk.

9. RAG – Retrieval Augments Generation

RAG is a technique used with LLMs, by which a specific data set that sits outside of the LLM’s training data is accessed in response to a user’s prompt. RAG can have cost benefits by reducing the frequency with which an LLM requires re-training. The RAG technique can be usefully deployed with chatbots, retrieving current content from a business’ internal materials – for example, to provide up-to-date pricing information for services.

If you have questions or concerns about the use of technology or AI, please contact James Tumbridge and Robert Peake.