Since its 2022 launch, ChatGPT has skyrocketed to over a million users in just five days, with many young adults now using it regularly, according to Pew Research Center. A groundbreaking study from Florida State University (FSU) reveals that AI is not just a tool—it’s reshaping how we speak.
Researchers from FSU’s Departments of Modern Languages and Linguistics, Computer Science, and Mathematics analyzed 22.1 million words from podcasts and spontaneous speech. Their findings, published in the AIES Proceedings for the 2025 Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society, show a surge in AI-associated buzzwords like “surpass,” “meticulous,” “strategically,” and “underscore” since ChatGPT’s release. Notably, synonyms like “accentuate” remained unchanged, suggesting AI’s unique linguistic fingerprint is seeping into human conversation.
Led by Assistant Professor Tom Juzek, the team, including students Bryce Anderson and Riley Galpin, found that these buzzwords doubled in frequency in some cases. “This is the first time in modern history that a technology, not society or culture, is driving such a widespread language shift,” Juzek noted. The study raises ethical questions about AI’s influence on human behavior and language, with Anderson emphasizing, “Language is humanity’s most powerful communication tool, and understanding AI’s impact is crucial.”
This research, part of FSU’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, builds on prior work showing AI’s effect on scientific writing. As AI continues to integrate into daily life, the team plans to explore whether it’s amplifying or directly driving language changes.
For more details, visit the FSU News article. To learn about FSU’s research in linguistics, check out mll.fsu.edu.
