Chatbots are training us, too: Study finds ChatGPT’s AI buzzwords doubled in spoken English

Florida State University researchers have discovered that AI buzzwords commonly overused by ChatGPT are now appearing in everyday spoken English, marking the first peer-reviewed evidence that large language models may be directly influencing human speech patterns. The study, which analyzed 22.1 million words from unscripted conversations, found that nearly three-quarters of AI-associated words showed increased usage after ChatGPT’s 2022 release, with some more than doubling in frequency.

The research breakthrough: FSU’s interdisciplinary team conducted the first academic study to examine whether chat-based AI is changing how humans naturally speak, not just write.

• The study will be published in AIES Proceedings and presented at the eighth Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society in October.
• Researchers analyzed conversational podcasts on science and technology, comparing language patterns before and after ChatGPT’s November 2022 launch.
• The work was led by undergraduate students Bryce Anderson and Riley Galpin under assistant professor Tom Juzek’s supervision.

Key findings: Words like “delve,” “intricate,” “surpass,” “boast,” “meticulous,” “strategically,” and “garner” all showed considerable increases in spoken usage post-ChatGPT.

• AI buzzwords increased in frequency while their synonymous counterparts did not—for example, “underscore” usage rose significantly while “accentuate” remained stable.
• These formal, academic-tone words are typically uncommon in spontaneous spoken language, making their increase particularly notable.
• The changes represent “the breadth of change” with “so many words showing notable increases over a relatively short period,” according to Juzek.

The “seep-in effect” concern: Researchers suggest AI influence extends beyond direct tool usage into unconscious language adoption patterns.

• “This research focuses on a central issue in the discourse surrounding AI and language: are these language changes happening because we’re using a tool and repeating what it suggested or is language changing because AI is influencing the human language system?” Juzek explained.
• The team found “convergence between human word choices and LLM-associated patterns with AI buzzwords” that differs from typical language change driven by real-world events.

What they’re saying: The researchers emphasize the broader implications for human communication and society.

• “Language is the most powerful medium of communication that humanity has and understanding how AI will affect this medium is fundamentally important and timely,” said lead author Anderson.
• “Our research highlights many important ethical questions,” noted Galpin. “With the ability of LLMs to influence human language comes larger questions about how model biases and misalignment may begin to influence human behaviors.”

Building on previous work: This spoken language study follows the team’s earlier research documenting AI’s impact on written scientific English.

• The previous study revealed “large-scale structural changes AI has had on scientific writing,” which Galpin presented at the International Florida AI Research Society Conference in May.
• Both studies were conducted through FSU’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, providing undergraduates research experience alongside faculty.

What’s next: The research opens new questions about AI’s role in language evolution and whether these changes represent amplification of natural patterns or direct AI influence.

• “A big open question for future work is whether AI is amplifying conventional patterns of language change or directly driving them,” Juzek said.
• The findings raise concerns about potential model biases and misalignment effects spreading beyond digital interactions into human speech patterns.