If you think everyone is starting to sound like ChatGPT, you’re not wrong #TEDTalks

Summary

Since ChatGPT's release, studies show people are using the word 'delve' more frequently in spontaneous conversation, likely because the model was trained on data from Nigerian workers who naturally use this term more often. This linguistic overrepresentation became amplified in the AI model beyond even the original workers' dialects, demonstrating how AI systems can distort and reinforce language patterns at scale. Beyond language, this phenomenon reflects a broader issue: algorithmic platforms filter reality through layers of engagement optimization and profit motives, creating a distorted version of the world that users mistake for actual reality.

The speaker warns that consuming algorithmically-curated content and using AI tools trains us to think like these systems, particularly because controversial and extreme content generates more engagement than neutral perspectives. This creates a survivorship bias where we only see amplified versions of reality rather than balanced representations. The solution requires constant critical self-examination: questioning why we're seeing certain content, why we're adopting certain language patterns, what we're thinking, and what incentives the platforms have in showing us these things.

Key takeaways

• Question algorithmic influence: Regularly ask yourself why you're seeing, saying, or thinking something, and what the platform gains from promoting it
• Recognize AI and platforms are not neutral tools: All content is filtered through layers of engagement optimization and profit motives, not objective reality
• Distinguish between amplified and actual reality: Controversial content goes viral more easily, creating a distorted perception of what's normal or possible
• Understand how language shapes thought: Adopting AI speech patterns can lead to adopting AI thinking patterns, affecting your worldview
• Practice constant critical awareness: Without active questioning, platform algorithms will gradually reshape your version of reality to match theirs