Experts from Northeastern University are exploring how artificial intelligence is shaping the way people use language and communicate. Professors Terra Blevins, Sofia Teixeira, and Heather Littlefield are examining how AI is influencing both the vocabulary and structure of language. Language has always evolved over time—new words emerge during major events, such as the pandemic, when terms like "WFH" (working from home) and "social distancing" became common. Now, AI is introducing new linguistic patterns, with words like "delve," "essential," and "insight" appearing more frequently in written communication. Additionally, AI-generated text often uses metaphors comparing things to tapestries or symphonies, a stylistic choice that has become notable in chatbot responses. Changes in grammar and sentence structure are also being observed. While new words may come and go, shifts in grammar tend to have a longer-lasting impact. AI is influencing how sentences are formed, particularly in languages with flexible structures, such as Russian, where noun and verb endings help identify subjects and objects. Large language models (LLMs), which are trained on vast amounts of English text, often favor a subject-verb-object structure, even in languages that allow for more flexibility. This can subtly shape how people structure their sentences over time. AI's influence extends beyond grammar and vocabulary—it's also affecting human communication styles. Emails generated by AI tend to be more formal and agreeable, using language that is polite and structured. In turn, humans may unconsciously adopt similar patterns, especially in the use of function words like "however" or "therefore." This mirroring effect shows how AI is not only shaping language but also influencing how people interact with each other. However, not everyone is embracing AI's impact on language. Some writers are actively avoiding features commonly associated with AI-generated text, such as the overuse of em dashes, which have become a marker of bot-generated content. Certain words linked to AI are also being avoided by those seeking to distinguish human writing from machine-generated text. While AI can help organize thoughts and prepare for difficult conversations, overreliance on chatbots may weaken a person's ability to handle conflict and self-regulate. Human communication involves disagreement and conflict resolution—skills that AI cannot replicate.