Guess the 2023 word of the year, according to Collins Dictionary

'AI' is Collins Dictionary’s word of the year.

Collins describes AI – the abbreviation for artificial intelligence – as “the modelling of human mental functions by computer programs”.

This year has seen the meteoric rise of generative AI software ChatGPT after its launch in late 2022, and a subsequent explosion of interest in all things AI.

But while there is excitement around such a powerful technology and how it could help in areas such as diagnosing cancer, there is also anxiety, with people worried about the potential impact on their jobs and AI’s ability to spread disinformation.

Online searches for AI have surged since ChatGPT was launched in November 2022, Google Trends shows. And AI’s market growth potential is projected to grow by nearly 800% to around $1.8 trillion by 2030.

Although AI is older than most people think, legislation, ownership and copyright issues are still being ironed out as industries seek ways to tap into the potential of AI to increase productivity, reduce workloads and provide more accurate output than a human.

Legal frameworks to regulate the sector are still in the preparation phase in the European Union, while the ink is only just dry on the US AI Bill of Rights.

So what does the future hold for AI? Over 200 AI leaders will be addressing that topic at the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Summit on 13-15 November, looking at the impact artificial intelligence could have on areas including jobs, security and the economy.

Most of us are familiar with the rise of social media influencers – people who develop an online following by sharing their opinions or expertise on various topics.

Influencer marketing is when these people endorse products or use product placement, but “deinfluencing”, which was shortlisted for Collins Dictionary Word of the Year for 2023, is when social media is used to warn people to avoid certain commercial products or lifestyle choices.

Another shortlisted word was “greedflation”, which refers to “the use of inflation as an excuse to raise prices to artificially high levels in order to increase corporate profits”. Some say greedflation is nonsense, but others say it's a real thing.

Also on the Collins list are “nepo babies”, which has its root in the word “nepotism”. Nepo babies are people whose career is believed to have been advanced by having famous parents. Although so-called nepo babies have been cropping up in the entertainment industry for over a century, the term only became popular in 2022.

Other shortlisted words include “ultra-processed”, which refers to food made using industrial methods and ingredients that lack nutritional value, such as emulsifiers, thickeners and artificial flavours. Ultra-processed foods account for at least half of all calories consumed in some countries, but have been linked to premature death and a greater risk of developing colon cancer.

“ULEZ”, an abbreviation for ultra-low emission zone, is also on the list, along with “canon event”, which means a moment that is essential to the formation of one’s character or identity.

Also included is “bazball”, which is a term for an aggressive style of batting in cricket.

Logophiles are keenly awaiting announcements of 2023’s word of the year from other dictionary makers, such as the Oxford English Dictionary, which went with “goblin mode” last year. Merriam-Webster chose “gaslighting” in 2022, and the Cambridge Dictionary chose “homer”, after it apparently annoyed players of the online game Wordle.