Study finds people are adopting ChatGPT-ese in everyday speech

A new study reveals that people are increasingly adopting ChatGPT’s distinctive vocabulary and phrasing patterns in their everyday speech, with certain AI-favored words appearing up to 50% more frequently in academic discourse. This linguistic shift could potentially flatten emotional nuance and reduce the colorful diversity that makes human communication engaging and regionally distinct.

What the research found: Academics and educators are unconsciously incorporating AI-generated language patterns into their natural speech, according to researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, a research organization in Germany.

• The study analyzed 280,000 academic YouTube videos across more than 20,000 channels to track linguistic changes since ChatGPT’s release.
• Specific words commonly used by AI—including “meticulous,” “adept,” “delve,” and “realm”—appeared more than 50% more frequently than expected in human speech.
• These weren’t AI-written scripts but rather educated speakers naturally adopting ChatGPT’s vocabulary in their own presentations and lectures.

Why this matters: The shift represents more than just word choice—it could fundamentally alter how humans express themselves and connect with one another.

• AI-influenced language is replacing more vivid, emotionally rich expressions with sanitized, structured alternatives.
• What once might have been passionate, complex arguments risk becoming “dull and antiseptic,” potentially eroding the texture, emotion, and regional quirks that enliven human communication.
• Frequent interaction with AI tools appears to be unconsciously training people to default to artificial speech patterns.

The broader implications: This phenomenon mirrors historical patterns where technology has shaped human language, but with potentially deeper consequences for interpersonal communication.

• Previous technologies like telegraphs encouraged brevity, while social media introduced hashtags and emoji-speak into verbal conversation.
• Unlike past changes, AI influence could reduce politeness in human interactions if people become accustomed to being brusque with chatbots.
• The irony is striking: AI was designed to mimic humans, but humans are now mimicking AI.

What experts are saying: The researchers warn against the homogenization of human expression through AI influence.

• “Linguistic diversity doesn’t thrive on autocomplete,” highlighting concerns about reduced variety in human communication.
• While AI tools like ChatGPT can be valuable co-authors for academics and content creators, the tradeoff is adopting a voice that’s “often monotonous in long-form, no matter the prompt.”