2023 Word of the Year is Authentic

As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates the blurring of what is real, Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2023 is authentic. With deepfakes, manipulated images and videos, and AI-authored books and papers becoming widespread, we can find hope knowing that authenticity is still highly valued.

America's oldest dictionary defines authentic as:

1. real, actual, not false or imitation;
2. true to one's own personality, spirit, or character;
3. worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact.

Other aspects of authenticity are being trustworthy, genuine, and sincere. 

Authenticity is essential for developing our innate emotional intelligence (EI), which involves understanding our feelings and needs and cultivating life experiences that reflect our true purpose and values. It's how we become trustworthy, genuine, and sincere in relationship to ourselves and others. These qualities also represent the gold standard for what makes great leaders, brands, and companies. 

How do we best navigate the inevitable expansion of artificial intelligence while maintaining a sense of what is authentic and trustworthy? As the world races to integrate machine learning, humanoid robotics, and AI capable of surpassing human intelligence, we face the challenges of managing the potentially harmful and even catastrophic consequences.

Machines, like humans, need to be guided with high ethical standards. Just as humans thrive in healthy relationships with one another, the same is true for humans and machines. By tapping into the essentials of emotional intelligence like empathy, openly listening, and compassion, we can activate the positive aspects of AI to solve problems and cocreate optimal conditions and experiences.

At its best, AI can spark imagination and innovation across every industry. It has the potential to greatly improve education, healthcare, and a myriad of social issues while speeding the transformation to renewable energy and a circular economy. It can inspire creativity in arts and entertainment, infusing our lives with joy and sensory experiences. The good is already happening, and with applied wisdom, the future can be a better version of the world we are living in today.