The Macquarie Dictionary has announced its Word of the Year for 2023, highlighting the influence of technology and social trends on modern language. This year’s winner, AI slop, refers to “low-quality content created by generative AI.” The announcement came after an engaging panel discussion among language experts, including Victoria Morgan, the executive editor of the Macquarie Dictionary, and others, who evaluated over 65 contenders across various categories.
The panel began with the Arts category, where the term femgore, a horror subgenre featuring empowered female protagonists, emerged victorious. The lively debate then transitioned into the Business category, where attention economy gained recognition. As the discussions progressed, the panel faced challenges in narrowing down the contenders, especially in the Colloquial and Internet categories, which sparked intense deliberations.
Among the other noteworthy contenders, the term 67, a slang derived from the song “Doot Doot” by Skrilla, and the phrase “ate (and left no crumbs)” also garnered significant attention. While 67 has been recognized by Dictionary.com, it shared the Macquarie’s category crown with the lively expression.
AI Dominates Language Trends
The Internet category was particularly competitive this year. The emergence of ChatGPT and other AI technologies shaped the conversation around language. The term clanker, derived from the Star Wars franchise, received considerable votes but ultimately lost to AI slop. Defined as a modern equivalent of spam, AI slop signifies the rise of low-quality, automated content that has become prevalent in digital spaces.
The term’s versatility allows it to be combined with other words, resulting in phrases like slopaganda and slop music. Alongside AI slop, medical misogyny, which addresses systemic bias in healthcare against women, secured a place on the podium, illustrating the intersection of language and social issues.
The public vote mirrored the panel’s decision, placing AI slop at the forefront, followed by medical misogyny and attention economy.
A Broader Impact on Language
Other categories showcased a range of emerging terms as well. In the Fashion category, Ozempic face gained traction, while bathroom camping resonated in the Social Interest category. Political discussions highlighted terms like bird-dogging, showing how language evolves in response to current events.
As the panel concluded their deliberations, it became clear that the influence of technology and societal shifts continues to shape our language. The recognition of AI slop as the Word of the Year underscores the growing complexity of communication in the digital age. With the advent of generative AI, the challenges and opportunities in language will continue to evolve, prompting further discussions in the years to come.
The Macquarie Dictionary’s announcement serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of language and its reflection of contemporary society. As we navigate this ever-changing landscape, the words we choose can encapsulate both our cultural zeitgeist and the challenges we face.
