Vector (in AI context)
A numerical representation of text meaning that allows machines to compare information by its sense.
What is a vector in AI?
A vector in the context of AI is a numerical representation of the meaning of a word, sentence, or entire document. Because computers do not understand text the way humans do, they use long lists of numbers (coordinates) to compare information.
These coordinates determine the exact position of the information in a hypothetical knowledge space. If two texts have similar meanings, their vectors lie close to each other in the database.
Why vectors matter
- Enable semantic search - searching by meaning, not just keywords
- Are the foundation of RAG systems and vector databases
- Created using embedding models