What does RAG mean in AI

What does RAG mean in AI refers to Retrieval-Augmented Generation, a transformative methodology within artificial intelligence that enhances language model capabilities by combining external knowledge retrieval with generative AI technologies. RAG in AI means creating systems that can dynamically access and incorporate information from external databases, documents, and knowledge repositories during response generation, rather than relying solely on pre-trained model parameters. This meaning encompasses AI architectures that address fundamental limitations including knowledge cutoffs, hallucinations, and outdated information by grounding outputs in current, verifiable sources. RAG means implementing technical components such as embedding models for semantic understanding, vector databases for efficient retrieval, and integration mechanisms that combine external knowledge with generative capabilities. In AI context, RAG means enhanced accuracy, improved factual grounding, and access to real-time information essential for enterprise applications requiring reliable, up-to-date knowledge for autonomous decision-making and complex workflow execution.