AI's Dominance Reflects in 'Word of the Year' Lists, Including Oxford & Webster

AI makes a significant mark on the "Word of the Year" lists at Oxford, Cambridge, and Merriam-Webster, reflecting the dominance of artificial intelligence in the technological landscape of 2023.

Dominating 'Word of the Year' Lists

Interestingly, the highlighted AI-related words on these lists are existing terms that have been repurposed with new meanings, raising eyebrows at the appropriation of familiar language.

Cambridge's chosen word is "hallucinate," a term closely associated with the behavior of generative AI models like ChatGPT. Adgully reported that these models tend to create fictional information, from dates to entire personas, rather than admitting a lack of knowledge.

Deliberate "hallucinations" define generative imagery and audio, crafting a blend of the model's training data without precisely replicating any specific element, albeit achieving striking proximity.

However, this intentional creative process poses inherent dangers as AI-produced art and images, varying in quality, become increasingly widespread across various domains. Cambridge AI ethicist Henry Shevlin remarks on the broader acceptance of the term, transcending its initial association with human perception.

According to Shevlin, this trend emphasizes their inclination to attribute human-like qualities to AI. Looking ahead, he anticipates that the psychological lexicon will further evolve to encompass the unconventional capabilities of the novel intelligence we are currently developing.

Merriam-Webster took a different perspective by choosing "authentic" as their word of the year. In the era of artificial intelligence, where its influence extends to deepfake videos, actors' contracts, academic integrity, and various other realms, the distinction between what is deemed "real" and "fake" has become increasingly ambiguous.

While "authentic" itself didn't undergo a radical redefinition, TechCrunch reported that it did acquire a fresh and significant connotation. The perennial concern about the authenticity of our actions, as well as those of others, has persisted for years.

"Deepfake" also secured a spot on Merriam-Webster's longlist, making a transition, whether fortuitous or otherwise, from a technology associated with revenge porn to a widely applicable term for generative AI.

Oxford's Word of the Year

In contrast, Oxford's word of the year-while it would have been more fitting for this article if it were AI-centric, unfortunately, the AI term finds itself in the runner-up position. "Prompt," a versatile and often overlooked word, has assumed an additional definition, now recognized for its connection to the human aspect of generative AI.

However, BBC reported that Oxford's designated word of the year is the intriguing "rizz," a whimsical abbreviation for "charisma. This is also a quality arguably absent in AI, akin to the charisma of Tom Holland.

While the infiltration of AI terminology into everyday language was inevitable, there's a tinge of disappointment that more cutting-edge terms like "latent space" have not yet become commonplace.

Nevertheless, the rapidly advancing pace of technology suggests a prudent choice to adhere to well-established terms, a sentiment echoed by my esteemed colleagues in the lexicographic realm.

The anticipation lingers for future words of the year, with daring dictionary content teams contemplating whether concepts like vectors and embeddings warrant heightened recognition as well.