Losing Our Voice: The Human Cost of AI-Driven Language
Losing Our Voice: The Human Cost of AI-Driven Language originally appeared on L.A. Mag.
Not only is AI influencing our written communication, but it is also altering our verbal interactions. The Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin has conducted research on the impact of ChatGPT on human speech by analyzing 280,000 academic YouTube videos. Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, certain words have become more prevalent in everyday vocabulary, with terms such as 'delve,' 'meticulous,' 'realm,' and 'adept' being used 51% more frequently. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development confirmed that ChatGPT favors these words to a greater extent than humans, as seen in a previous study comparing human- to AI-edited texts. The word 'delve' has proven to be a front runner in determining how speakers 'internalize this virtual vocabulary into daily communication,' according to Hiromu Yakura, the study's lead author and a researcher.Speakers are unaware of the shift in their language, but what's more concerning is how we sound. Despite research being primarily focused on vocabulary, there are suspicions that AI is beginning to shape our tone, with people speaking with more structure and less emotional expression.
AI, a tool that seemingly improves our grammatical and structured communication, creates a divide in our collaborative communication through the suspicion it arouses. Mor Naaman, professor of Information Science at Cornell Tech has outlined three levels of human detachment caused by the adoption of virtual vocabulary. The first level is the loss of authenticity and vulnerability in our speech that proves our availability as human beings. The second level involves lessened attention and effort in our communication, relating to our level of care. The final level consists of our ability to show our real selves: our humor, our competence, or our regret. Naaman uses an example of texting someone, 'I'm sorry you're upset' versus 'Hey, sorry I freaked at dinner, I probably shouldn't have skipped therapy this week.' The distinction between a structured apology versus a personal explanation makes all the difference between ChatGPT and a real human being. We are losing the autonomy of our speech and the trust in our communication with others, and soon, we may lose agency over our thinking. 'Instead of articulating our own thoughts, we articulate whatever AI helps us to articulate…we become more persuaded,' Naaman says. Ultimately, our personhood is at stake. ChatGPT creates stereotypes about communities and what 'correct' English is. But, instead of adopting a homogeneous vocabulary and a 'correct' method of communication, we must self-regulate and celebrate the imperfections that build trust and make us human.
This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
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