🗣️ AI may be changing the way humans speak.

According to Harvard-trained linguist Adam Aleksic, one of the clearest signs is a surprisingly ordinary word: “delve.”

Since ChatGPT launched, usage of the word has reportedly surged by around 1,000%.

Why? Aleksic argues it’s partly a result of how AI models are trained. Human reviewers in regions where words like “delve” are somewhat more common helped shape model outputs, while the models themselves tend to favor more formal, Latin-derived vocabulary that sounds authoritative.

The result: AI frequently uses words like delve, and people are starting to copy that style.

What’s fascinating is that the influence isn’t staying inside the machine. Evidence suggests humans are increasingly using AI-favored words in everyday speech, creating a feedback loop where AI shapes the language of the people who trained it.

As podcaster Chris Williamson put it:

“The creature that programmed the AI is being programmed by the AI.”

Aleksic’s response:

“Its reality is influencing our reality.”

Language has always evolved through books, television, and the internet. Now, AI may be becoming the newest force shaping how millions of people communicate.

@aipost 🏴