Artificial intelligence has gained significant recognition as AI-related terminology has been incorporated into the Merriam-Webster dictionary. This development highlights the growing influence of AI and technology in everyday language. The dictionary, a longstanding resource in the United States, has added terms such as ‘agentic’ and ‘natural language processing,’ reflecting the advanced understanding required to grasp these concepts. Lexicographer Peter Sokolowski notes that the inclusion of these sophisticated words indicates the broader public’s access to technical language, facilitated by digital communication. The process for a word to be added involves its frequent appearance in mainstream media and the expertise of specialists who define its meaning for a general audience. Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky points out that technological advancements drive language evolution, similar to the industrial revolution, necessitating new words to describe complex ideas efficiently.
QUESTION: How might the inclusion of AI terminology in the dictionary influence the way future generations understand and interact with technology?
Sign of the times: AI lingo muscles into esteemed dictionary
