AI is teaching us to speak like bots, and it’s a problem

2026-05-28 · Source: AI Advances - Medium · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Since 2022, the widespread adoption of chatbots has subtly altered human language, leading individuals to adopt a more "average" and "plasticky" style of communication. This phenomenon, observed over the past three years, suggests that AI models, by their nature of being trained on averages, are nudging human expression towards a machine-like cadence. A notable instance occurred in 2024, when a librarian at University College London identified a statistically improbable surge in the word "delve" within research abstracts, a term previously less common in everyday professional writing. This indicates that AI is not merely influencing writing but also impacting how humans speak and interact, gradually reshaping vocabulary, sentence structures, and even punctuation.

Key takeaway

For professional communicators and content creators, be mindful of the subtle influence AI tools exert on your language. If you rely on chatbots for drafting, critically review outputs to preserve your unique voice and avoid the "plasticky" homogenization of vocabulary and style. Actively cultivate diverse linguistic sources to counteract the averaging effect of AI-generated text and maintain authentic human expression in your work.

Key insights

AI chatbots are subtly homogenizing human language, making our communication increasingly machine-like by nudging expression towards an average.

Principles

• Models trained on averages promote average output.
• AI influences human vocabulary and sentence structure.
• Language shifts can be subtle and imperceptible.

Topics

• AI Language Influence
• Chatbot Communication
• Linguistic Homogenization
• Vocabulary Shift
• Human-AI Interaction

Best for: AI Scientist, AI Ethicist, Research Scientist, General Interest

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by AI Advances - Medium.