What is Cloud?
The cloud means software and data run on a company's computers elsewhere, and you use them over the internet.
Instead of a program on your own computer, it runs 'in the cloud': on large computers in a data center, reachable over the internet. Most AI tools work this way, because they need a lot of computing power. You type in your browser; the heavy work happens elsewhere.
It explains why your data leaves the building when you use an online AI tool. That is exactly why privacy and good agreements matter.
Put precisely
In the cloud, your data sits on someone else's computers. Where it sits and who can access it depends on the contract.
Common misconception
That the cloud is unsafe, or automatically safe. It depends on the agreements and your settings.
Related words
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