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Plain-English glossary

AI employee terms, explained like a business owner

The useful meaning of each term—and why it matters when you put AI to work.

Updated August 26, 2026 · Reviewed against the current product

The work

AI employee

AI software given a role, instructions, business context, tools, and recurring work.

Workflow

The repeatable path from the event that starts a job to the finished result.

Task

One piece of work with a clear finish.

Schedule

A time and rhythm for recurring work, such as every weekday at 4:30 p.m.

Trigger

An event that starts work, such as a new Gmail or Outlook message.

Business context

Context

The messages, records, instructions, and business facts useful for the current job.

Memory

Context carried forward in your Workforce AI account for future conversations and work.

System of record

The business tool that holds the official version, such as a CRM, accounting system, or signed document folder.

Knowledge

Company information and documents your AI employee can use while it works.

Connections and actions

Integration

A connection between Workforce AI and another business tool.

OAuth

The provider sign-in screen that lets you connect an account while the password stays with the provider.

Tool

A specific action an integration makes available, such as finding a contact or creating a task.

Read action

An action that finds or retrieves connected information.

Write action

An action that creates, changes, sends, shares, publishes, moves, or removes information.

Control and quality

Approval

A proposed action waiting in the dashboard for an authorized person to approve or deny.

Work history

The saved conversations, meetings, proposals, and approval decisions in the account.

Evaluation

A practical review of real results to see whether the job is accurate, useful, and consistent.

Escalation

Bringing a decision or exception to the right person.