In AI era, Merriam-Webster picks 'authentic' as its word of the year

Merriam-Webster has chosen "authentic" as their word of the year for 2023, reflecting a crisis of authenticity in the age of deepfakes and post-truth. Other contenders include "X", "EGOT", and "Elemental". The slang term "Rizz" refers to romantic appeal or charm. "Kibbitz" saw a spike in lookups after Hamas attacked communal farms in Israel. "Implode" became popular due to the implosion of the Titan submersible during the exploration of the Titanic wreckage. Deepfake videos involving Elon Musk attracted attention. "Covenant" saw increased interest after a mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville.