'Hallucinate' Chosen as Dictionary.com's 2023 Word of the Year

The term, redefined in the context of artificial intelligence, reflects the growing influence and debate surrounding AI.

'Hallucinate' has been chosen as Dictionary.com's 2023 Word of the Year, with a specific definition related to artificial intelligence: 'to produce false information contrary to the intent of the user and present it as if true and factual.'
The selection of 'hallucinate' reflects the increasing influence of AI on our lives and language, with the term's use in digital publications increasing by 85% year-over-year.
Despite the term's increasing mainstream use, some AI researchers criticize its use in this context, arguing that it anthropomorphizes AI and ascribes ill intent to language learning models that are actually trained on datasets influenced by humans.
AI's potential for productivity is being hailed by some, while others express concerns about its potential to eliminate millions of jobs, reinforce biases, and spread misinformation.
Leaders in the US and Europe are already pushing for regulations around AI technology, highlighting its significant societal impact.