10/30/26

You’re absolutely right: Humans are starting to talk like AI

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AI is changing language. Certain phrases and words that are overrepresented by chatbots, like “it’s not X, it’s Y,” and “but here’s the thing,” are showing up more and more in human speech. And that may not be surprising, considering that ChatGPT alone reports more than a billion monthly active users. But what does this mean for the evolution of language, and for us?

Producer Kathleen Davis talks to Etymology Nerd Adam Aleksic, a linguist and author based in New York.


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Segment Guests

Adam Aleksic

Adam Aleksic is a linguist and content creator posting educational videos as the “Etymology Nerd” to an audience of more than three million. He is the author of “Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language.”

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About Kathleen Davis

Kathleen Davis is a producer and fill-in host at Science Friday, which means she spends her weeks researching, writing, editing, and sometimes talking into a microphone. She’s always eager to talk about freshwater lakes and Coney Island diners.

About Dee Peterschmidt

Dee Peterschmidt is Science Friday’s audio production manager, hosted the podcast Universe of Art, and composes music for Science Friday’s podcasts. Their D&D character is a clumsy bard named Chip Chap Chopman.

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