← The lexicon

Prompt injection

n. Agents 2024

An attack that hides instructions inside content an AI reads, like a web page, email, or document, to hijack what it does. The top security risk for agents that browse or read your inbox.

“A hidden line in the PDF told the agent to forward the contract. Textbook prompt injection.”

See also

One of the Essentials

Prompt injection is one of 20 Essential terms: the words you need to follow a news story or a work meeting about AI. It entered common use around 2024.