Is AI changing our language?

But language doesn’t just reflect how we talk — it also shapes how we think. If AI-conditioned phrasing becomes the norm, thought patterns themselves could shift toward the syntax and cadence of machines. This would encourage clarity and efficiency, but diminish nuance, creativity, and narrative flow, which are often at the heart of human expression. Conversations and writing might start to feel less personal and more formulaic, aligning with the linguistic patterns favored by large language models (LLMs).

If standardized, machine-trained American English, or some even more homogenized average style of speaking come to dominate, it could become the prestige forms of speech in social and professional contexts. That could mean wider convergence around AI-like intonation, reduced diversity of global accents, and shifts in what society deems “trustworthy” or “professional” speech.

This carries social risks. If most AI voices favor one accent, that could lead to reinforced accent bias. People who don’t sound like AI might even face subtle discrimination in workplaces or customer-facing roles. 

About Author

AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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