Updated 5 months ago
'Authentic' named word of the year
By Ruiqi Chen, Editor at LinkedIn NewsUpdated 5 months ago
Authenticity might be what the world needs the most right now. Merriam-Webster has chosen “authentic” as its word of the year, noting that authenticity is now a “gold standard for building trust” as artificial intelligence and misinformation abound. The publisher says the world is facing a “crisis of authenticity” that has led people to value truth more than ever. Other frequently searched terms this year included “deepfake,” “dystopian,” “indict,” “coronation” and “X” following Twitter’s rebrand in July.
- “Gaslighting” was Merriam-Webster’s word of the year in 2022.
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Merriam-Webster’s 2023 Word of the Year is Authentic. Those in brand marketing know this word well. Being ‘authentic’ has become table stakes for how a brand shows up in the world. But, the need for everyone to conform begs the question as to whether or not authenticity is actually authentic? Are brands being pushed to look inwards and portray their true spirit? Or has it simply become another box to tick – where strategists build communications masquerading as authenticity? What are you seeing? Can we tell the difference?
There is something that’s been nagging me about generative AI. These advancements are revolutionary and awesome. But things that are authentic and real are becoming endangered species. ▪️Ai generated headshots that are made in likeness of a person. They aim for realism, gone are the dorky ethereal goddesses and grown ups pretending to be warrior princes. These new pics have all the same features as the human but they are not real. They are an idealized version - younger, thinner, prettier, the way the subject has never actually looked IRL. ▪️what about written content? All these articles and social posts that are written with the help of AI? The line is more blurry bc you can use Ai as a handy editor ✍️. But a lot of the content is missing originality, perfectly correct and perfectly generic. ▪️what about music? That blows my mind that Ai generates tunes from samples. But are they real? I think about some of this AI created content as Monet waterlilies posters in the dorm rooms circa 90s. Whisper of original but yet not the same as the art works in museums… “Takin' a drive, I was an ideal Looked so alive, turns out I'm not real Just something you paid for What was I made for?” I’ll leave you with this from Billie Eilish. #generativeai #ai #authenticity #real
Fun fact to kick off Cyber Monday and the final push toward the holidays. Merriam-Webster chose “authentic” as its 2023 word of the year. It’s a great choice, especially as the rise of fake news and AI-driven misinformation on social media are causing many to question what’s real and what’s not. Be authentic. Read authentic news. Work with authentic people. It’s an easy formula for success - past, present and future. #authenticity #publicrelations #communications #crisiscommunications
Merriam-Webster Inc.'s 2023 word of the year? Authentic. Marketers - here's why this is so relevant today. The barrier to creating content has never been lower. And AI has made it so easy to create content. AI can you create - ✏️ Copy 📷 Photographs 🎥 Videos I could have written this entire post using AI. But I didn't. Because people value authentic content And can spot unauthentic AI-generated content from a mile away. So here's the bottom line. >Great, authentic content takes time to create. >But, the investment is worth it >Because you're building a relationship >Which will create value for them and for you. Building authentic relationships with your network, your customers, and your subscribers is the #1 investment you can make in business. So go ahead, Use AI to get your creative juices flowing. But if you're not investing in being authentic, You're not making the right investment. TLDR; Be authentic with your network, customers, and subscribers - the investment will pay off. How are you showing your authenticity in 2023? ----- For more email marketing and data tips, follow me and come back every weekday at 7:30AM CT to jump in on the conversation My followers have shared great content ideas I've written about. DM me with your #emailmarketing #data and #sfmc topics you'd like to learn more about.
Authenticity seems to be one of the most sought after attributes this past year. The debut of generative AI platforms which have transformed data for the masses have resulted in output which lacks authenticity, one of the many attributes which distinguishes humans from AI. Authenticity comes out in the delivery of words, speech, and actions. It is inspired by the individual's passion for work or driven by activities and goals within their personal life. Authenticity is subjective and will vary from individual, however authenticity is almost like energy whereby it is recognized, received, and can be transferred between people and eventually implemented for positive change. I will also speak like an economist, everything has a benefit and cost. An individual takes a risk by presenting their authentic self to the world, however the same individual probably has a higher utility function than those who mask their true selves. Questions For Everyone: 1. As we prepare to close out 2023, what actions are you taking to be your authentic self? 2. Is there advice that you are willing to share that can help the rest of us achieve our true authentic self? #authenticity #2023 https://lnkd.in/e6tbjcih
Merriam-Webster just named their word of the year: "Authentic" They cite a substantial increase in online searches for the word. What does it say about us and our situation that authenticity is suddenly becoming more important or interesting? Does it arise from worries related to AI? Is it a cry out for something deeper than the shallows of social media? Does it speak to how far we have moved from reality? Is it a recognition that no modern creation can compete with good-ol' human connection? Or, is it something else entirely? Is it the expression of a yearning to stay true to our own values—and our turning, ironically, to technology for help in how to do that? All in all, I take it as a positive sign. At a time when facts and truth are taking a beating, our searches for "authentic" speak to an ongoing yearning for what's real. It also speaks to how we value congruency between what a person or group says and their actions. We want our leaders to actually mean what they say, for example. And we support companies whose behaviors match their inspiring brand messages. In a world that is increasingly made up, we want real. Authentic. I'm all for it.
Merriam-Webster Inc. announced its 2023 Word of the Year on Monday: Authentic "Authentic" was the most-looked-up word in the dictionary's 500,000 entries, the company said in a press release as reported by NPR. It’s getting harder and harder to know what’s real and what’s not with AI. Putting safeguards and markers to identify generative AI for text, audio, video, etc., may be an essential way to deal with this new normal. Thankfully, word wasn’t “dystopian”. How advanced is the tech? Check out Runway ML’s “motion brush,” which allows animating images. It’s amazing! Source: https://lnkd.in/gJU-Pwgy
Not a fan of Merriam-Webster's selection of "authentic" as its word of the year. It certainly reflects today's challenges with AI and misinformation. But, in the creator landscape, this term's usage is often overused. So much so, its become a platitude largely devoid of meaning. In creator and influencer marketing discussions, 'authentic' frequently emerges as a catch-all explanation for 'why' something or someone is successful. Whether explaining the effectiveness of creators or the growth of their audience, the conversation often circles back to 'authenticity' as the answer. But what depth does this term actually offer? The habitual reliance on 'authentic' as a buzzword in these contexts points to a larger issue. While authenticity, in its essence, involves being true to one's personality or character, its application in relation to creators often lacks clarity and depth. This vagueness mirrors how descriptors like 'big' fail to capture the full essence of subjects. Mars is 'big'. A king size candy bar is 'big'. Successful creators embody a spectrum of traits, with authenticity being just one facet. Their growth and resonance with audiences are products of continuous evolution, shaped by feedback and personal development. Rather than a static quality, authenticity in this context is dynamic and multifaceted. Echoing Ralph Waldo Emerson's wisdom, "It's not the destination, it's the journey." The path to creator success aligns with an ongoing process of discovery and adaptation.Success stems not from a singular definition but through the ever-evolving journey of creative expression and audience engagement. This journey, marked by both personal growth and audience interaction, is where creators truly find and express their niche, shaping their unique path to success. https://lnkd.in/gnA_QK4s
Just blocks away from where I was speaking, I discovered a mural that instantly earned a red heart on my Google Maps - a practice I use to chronicle places I love. ❤️ This was another step in my ongoing mission to populate my world map with heart locations that are visually enchanting. I managed to snap a photo with the mural, but - it’s only a partial view. The full, glorious mural is revealed in the comments. I set aside precisely 17 minutes to walk there, capture the moment, and return. The challenge? Depicting both myself and the expansive mural in a single shot. This endeavor was tougher than anticipated, echoing the complexities of capturing life's authentic moments. In my mind, I envisioned a scene where white seamlessly blends into a vibrant spectrum of colors. It was a magical concept, but in reality, whether due to my skills, equipment, or time constraints, I could not execute this vision. ✨ This experience made me ponder the concept of authenticity, especially after learning that Merriam-Webster has chosen “authentic” as its word of the year. In our AI-saturated world, where misinformation is rampant, and authenticity is increasingly cherished, we’re in a “crisis of authenticity,” craving genuine, unaltered, and complete moments more than ever. My mural adventure, with its imperfections and constraints, became a symbol of this pursuit of authenticity. It’s a reminder that the unfiltered, imperfect realities often hold more value and truth in our quest for the perfect image or narrative. Questions for you: 1. When has striving for authenticity brought more meaning to your experiences? 2. How do you balance the allure of digital perfection with the charm of real-world authenticity? 3. Can you recall when staying true to authenticity had a profound impact, personally or professionally? Looking forward to your genuine stories and insights! 🌟 #ai #ethics #digitaltransformation -------- 💥I am Olga. 🔺Providing tips for in-house lawyers. 🔺Educating about disruptive technologies. 🔺Delivering keynotes on the intersection of business, law, and tech. Like this post? Want to see more? 🔔 Ring it on my Profile Follow #DailyOlga 🔝 Connect with me 🔝 Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter
The word of the year isn't a big reveal. It's not a tech neologism or Gen Z slang. Surprisingly, it's.... ✨ AUTHENTIC ✨ Yup, that's it. In an age of AI-generated everything, content with a human touch is what everyone craves. People want to consume ✨ AUTHENTIC ✨ ideas, insights, and advice, not robo-copy. Authenticity generates trust, expresses the values of a brand, and moves people to engage, convert, and share. https://lnkd.in/gS_fzq-U
The words Allyship -- Gaslighting -- and Authentic walk into a bar... What do they have in common? Well first, they were each words of the year in 2021 (Allyship), 2022 (Gaslighting),and 2023 (Authentic) respectively. More so, I found this sequence absolutely fascinating because it doesn't take a huge leap to see the connective tissue. What does it mean to be authentic? - To be true to one's own personality, spirit, character - To believe something or someone is worthy of acceptance of belief as fact What does it mean to gaslight? - To question the validity of someone else's thoughts, perceptions, memories or experiences What does it mean to be an ally? - A person with a foundational commitment to have empathy for marginalized people who takes action to speak up for and stand beside those who are marginalized In 2020, acts of violence recorded and authenticated by modern technology and an unprecedented global pandemic jolted much of the world awake to the realities that under-represented and marginalized people had been living under. People were catalyzed and, unfortunately, polarized in a way that had not been seen over a generation. Polarizing As a self-ascribed "word nerd" I often begin a research effort by researching the definition and etymology of words. From there I find inspiration, direction, and analogies. So too, does the rest of the world, as Merriam-Webster shared in their press release "driven by stories and conversations about AI, celebrity culture, identity, and social media." the meaning of authenticity captured attention. When I was a kid I so desperately wanted to wear glasses. I used to put my mom's glasses on to pretend, but her prescription was so strong I couldn't do anything but stumble around and straining to see gave me a headache. I sometimes describe empathy like this -- putting on someone else's lenses. I see hope in this sequence, allyship -- gaslighting -- authentic. We learned of our need to explore our relationship with allyship, we stumbled - we had difficultly adapting to someone else's lens or getting our experience heard, and finally we are seeking truth. What makes something the word of the year? In the most simplest form, interest. "Authentic" was among the most-looked-up words in the dictionary's 500,000 entries, reported by Merriam-Webster. But, perhaps my favorite part of this story however relates to how digital experiences are changing our acquisition and usage of novel words. In deciding the word of the year for 2023, the editors at Meriem-Webster had to cross-reference the data on 5 letter words used within the viral craze, Wordle. It seems that gamification has piqued the interest of new word nerds around the world. I wonder what Connections will bring in 2024??? https://lnkd.in/ev-HUCMj *Allyship named word of the year by Dictionary.com