Glossary

Learn the language of the signal.

Search technical, financial, and governance terms used across Boreal Signal coverage.

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Use a filter when you want to move straight from a story term to the right concept.

All terms12Compute2AI systems2Hardware2Finance4Governance2
Featured terms
Hardware2 Aliases

ASIC

A chip designed for one narrow task instead of general-purpose computing.

Definition
ASIC stands for application-specific integrated circuit. It is built to do one job extremely well, which usually means better performance, lower power use, and tighter cost control than a general-purpose chip.
Why it matters
ASICs matter when a company needs predictable throughput and economics at scale, especially in AI infrastructure, telecom, and industrial systems.
Aliases
application-specific integrated circuitcustom chip
Related signals
AI infrastructureSemiconductor strategyCompute efficiency
Compute1 Aliases

IPU

A specialized processor that handles machine-intelligence workloads efficiently.

Definition
IPU refers to an intelligence processing unit. It is a design label for processors that focus on machine-learning workloads rather than broad consumer computing.
Why it matters
Readers should treat IPU coverage as a signal that the compute stack is being reshaped around inference, orchestration, and lower-latency AI delivery.
Aliases
intelligence processing unit
Related signals
InferenceAI accelerationModel deployment
Compute1 Aliases

GPU

The general workhorse chip for training and running modern AI systems.

Definition
GPU stands for graphics processing unit. It was originally built for graphics, but its ability to process many operations in parallel makes it a core part of AI training and inference.
Why it matters
GPU availability often sets the pace for AI deployment, pricing, and product roadmap decisions.
Aliases
graphics processing unit
Related signals
AI infrastructureInferenceCloud compute
Hardware1 Aliases

QPU

The quantum equivalent of a processing unit used to run quantum workloads.

Definition
QPU stands for quantum processing unit. It is the hardware layer that runs quantum algorithms and experiments rather than classical software workloads.
Why it matters
QPU coverage usually signals that a company is moving from research language into hardware delivery, platform strategy, or commercial pilots.
Aliases
quantum processing unit
Related signals
Quantum computingHardware roadmapFault tolerance
AI systems2 Aliases

Quantum annealing

A quantum approach for solving certain optimization problems.

Definition
Quantum annealing is a method that uses quantum effects to search for low-energy states, which can help solve some optimization problems faster or more elegantly than classical methods.
Why it matters
When a story mentions quantum annealing, the practical question is whether the use case is a real optimization win or just a speculative demo.
Aliases
annealingoptimization problem
Related signals
Quantum computingOptimizationHardware pilots
AI systems2 Aliases

Inference

The stage where a trained model is used to produce answers, predictions, or actions.

Definition
Inference is what happens after a model is trained. It is the process of using the model in production to classify, generate, rank, or recommend outputs.
Why it matters
Inference economics often decide whether an AI product is scalable, profitable, or stuck in pilot mode.
Aliases
model servingproduction AI
Related signals
Model deploymentAI pricingLatency
Governance2 Aliases

Sovereign AI

AI infrastructure that keeps strategic control, data, and deployment choices close to home.

Definition
Sovereign AI describes systems built or operated so that an organization or country retains control over compute, data, model hosting, and operational policy.
Why it matters
It is one of the clearest signals for procurement, policy, and infrastructure spending in Canadian tech.
Aliases
sovereign infrastructuredomestic AI control
Related signals
AI infrastructureProcurementData residency
Governance2 Aliases

Data residency

Where data is stored and which legal rules apply to it.

Definition
Data residency refers to the physical and legal location of data storage and processing. It becomes important when customers, regulators, or governments want tighter control over where information can live.
Why it matters
For founders and operators, data residency can influence vendor choice, contract structure, and whether a product can win public-sector deals.
Aliases
data locationdata sovereignty
Related signals
Sovereign AIProcurementCompliance
Finance3 Aliases

Procurement cycle

The path a buyer follows from evaluation to approval to purchase.

Definition
The procurement cycle is the series of steps a customer uses to evaluate vendors, negotiate terms, obtain approval, and place an order or sign a contract.
Why it matters
If a story depends on procurement, the timing of revenue often matters more than the announcement itself.
Aliases
RFPvendor selectionbuying cycle
Related signals
Public sectorEnterprise salesSovereign AI
Finance2 Aliases

Cap table

A snapshot of who owns what in a company.

Definition
A cap table is a record of ownership that shows founders, investors, option holders, and other stakeholders alongside their equity stakes.
Why it matters
Ownership structure shapes who controls the company, how future financing rounds work, and how exit value gets shared.
Aliases
capitalization tableownership table
Related signals
FundraisingFounder controlEquity
Finance1 Aliases

ARR

Annual recurring revenue from subscription-style contracts.

Definition
ARR stands for annual recurring revenue. It is a common metric for software and services businesses that sell repeatable contracts and want to show the expected revenue run-rate over a year.
Why it matters
ARR is a shorthand for scale and retention, but it only matters if the underlying revenue is durable and collectible.
Aliases
annual recurring revenue
Related signals
SaaSEnterprise revenueGrowth quality
Finance2 Aliases

Burn rate

How quickly a company is spending cash relative to its inflows.

Definition
Burn rate measures how much cash a company uses over a given period, usually a month. It helps readers understand how long the company can operate before needing new funding or positive cash flow.
Why it matters
A fast burn rate can change the meaning of a growth story if the runway is short or the capital plan is fragile.
Aliases
cash burnrunway
Related signals
FundraisingRunwayCapital efficiency