#language-homogenization

#language-homogenization

Boring people don't listen. They tell their own stories, over and over, and never make any attempt to engage in our story, our lives. And so we avoid them. AI, on the other hand, is a superb listener. So much so that people, particularly teens, are turning to chatbots for companionship. But in doing so, do we run the risk of all becoming the same kind of person, wanting the same kinds of friendships, with the same kinds of interactions? In a word, boring.

Researchers at the University of Florida found that adults are increasingly weaving ChatGPT-style vocabulary into everyday speech, favoring words like 'surpass,' 'boast,' 'meticulous,' 'strategically' and 'garner.' The team analyzed 22.1 million words from unscripted and spontaneous spoken language, including conversational podcasts on science and technology. They discovered that nearly three-quarters of AI-associated words have surged in use since ChatGPT's release in 2022, with some more than doubling in frequency.