NewsRescue
Merriam-Webster, the oldest dictionary publisher in the United States, says that in 2023, its users had one word on the tip of their tongues: “authentic.”
The rise of AI and the proliferation of so-called ‘deepfakes,’ in which photos or videos can be digitally modified to trick viewers, has created a situation in which it is more impossible to believe one’s own eyes when viewing anything online.
According to Merriam-Webster, the public’s need for clarity has resulted in an increase in searches for the word “authentic” as the knot dividing fact from fiction becomes increasingly difficult to untangle.
According to the Associated Press, “we see a kind of crisis on authenticity in 2023,” Merriam-Webster’s editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski said on Monday. “What we realise is that, when we question authenticity, we value it even more.”
The publisher went on to say that the fresh interest in the term was fueled in part by “stories and conversations about AI, celebrity culture, identity, and social media,” which resulted in a “significant increase” in search inquiries. According to the dictionary’s creators, musicians such as Sam Smith and Taylor Swift have popularised the term this year by making declarations about seeking their “authentic voice” or “authentic self.”
Elon Musk, the founder of X, formerly Twitter, was also responsible for an increase in searches for the term after urging users to be more “authentic” on the platform.
Some of the runner-up words also give a peek of this year’s most-discussed issues. The term “deepfake” was included, as was “deadname,” defined by the dictionary as “the name that a transgender person was given at birth and no longer uses upon transitioning.”
“Indict,” like “dystopian,” saw an increase in 2023 as a result of former US President Donald Trump’s legal issues. The term “kibbutz,” which refers to Israeli communal settlements, also witnessed a significant increase following Hamas’ cross-border strike on Israel on October 7.
