Artificial intelligence: Collins Dictionary's word of the year 2023

The decision reflects not only the surge in usage of the term but also the profound discussions around AI's potential – be it a revolutionary force for good or a harbinger of dystopian outcomes.

According to the publisher, the use of the term AI has seen a fourfold increase this year alone. While other contenders such as 'ultraprocessed' and 'Ulez' were considered, AI emerged as the term that defined 2023. Alex Beecroft, the Managing Director at Collins, remarked that AI has been "the talking point of 2023". He observed that the rapid development of AI has rendered it as commonplace in our lives as once-futuristic technologies like email or streaming services.

When approached by BBC News for a statement, the AI chatbot ChatGPT commented: "AI's selection as the word of the year by Collins Dictionary reflects the profound impact of artificial intelligence on our rapidly evolving world, where innovation and transformation are driven by the power of algorithms and data."

Historically, Collins Dictionary's word of the year has been a mirror to society's concerns and focal points. In 2022, 'permacrisis' was chosen, shedding light on the continuous tumult in British politics. 2021 saw 'NFTs' (non-fungible tokens) garner widespread attention, and in 2020, 'lockdown' encapsulated the global sentiment.

Collins also spotlighted other contenders for the 2023 title, including:

• 'Bazball': A dynamic version of cricket inspired by England head coach Brendon McCullum, affectionately known as Baz
• 'Canon event': A pivotal event that plays a crucial role in shaping an individual's character or identity
• 'Debanking': The act of stripping someone of banking privileges, with Nigel Farage cited as an example
• 'Deinfluencing': An advisory act where social media influencers caution followers against specific products or lifestyle decisions
• 'Greedflation': The practice of citing high inflation as a pretext to unjustifiably hike prices, thereby amplifying corporate gains
• 'Nepo baby': A term highlighting those seen as beneficiaries of nepotism due to their celebrity lineage
• 'Semaglutide': A drug intended to regulate appetite and manage elevated blood sugar levels.
• 'Ultraprocessed': Foods produced using intricate industrial processes from a variety of ingredients, often devoid of substantial nutritional worth
• 'Ulez': An abbreviation for 'ultra-low emission zone', denoting areas where only vehicles with minimal emissions can enter without incurring a fee