You Are Not Prepared for Merriam-Webster's Announcement of Its New AI Model

""It is the dawn of the AI era," says a narrator in a video shared by the company. "And we are proud to introduce our latest large language model." "It never hallucinates. It does not require data centers, and uses no electricity," the booming voice continues. "It's a powerful tool that will change how you communicate - forever." Then the video cuts to the reveal. It's Merriam-Webster's newest "Collegiate Dictionary," the 12th edition, which was announced last week."

"It's a great bit of trolling that also spells out everything that's wrong with AI - and above all, how silly it is that everyone's rushing to adopt what remains an incredibly experimental form of technology with sketchy benefits and innumerable downsides. That the video's gone slightly viral is a testament to the anxiety surrounding that rush: we're all holding our breath and wincing in anticipation of which of our favorite brands or celebrities will suddenly cave to the stuff."

"What also makes it especially pertinent is that the tech's relationship to our "actual intelligence," as Merriam-Webster's video puts it, is pretty scary. Research has shown how depending on the chatbot can atrophy our critical thinking skills and even erode our memory - not to mention leading some folks down a delusional and dangerous mental health spiral. Nonetheless, schools and colleges are finding ways to force AI tools onto"

Merriam-Webster unveiled its 12th Collegiate Dictionary in a video that frames the physical book as an antidote to AI hype. The video touts the book as an "actual intelligence" alternative, claiming it never hallucinates, requires no data centers, and uses no electricity. The reveal satirizes large language models and critiques the rush by brands and institutions to adopt AI despite its experimental nature and unclear benefits. Research indicates reliance on chatbots can atrophy critical thinking, erode memory, and contribute to harmful mental health outcomes. Public anxiety about AI adoption is growing as institutions consider integrating AI tools.

Read at Futurism