Opinion: AI shapes language and culture in anxious times
In Future Words, trend forecasters Rohit Bhargava and Henry Coutinho-Mason propose new terms to describe modern anxieties, including lifehoarding (over-optimizing for longevity) and puregatory (ethical compromise in daily life). The book, published next week, reflects how AI and algorithms define contemporary struggles—from algorithmic product hounding to existential dread over AI risks.
Key points
- Trend forecasters propose new words like *lifehoarding* and *puregatory* to describe modern anxieties in *Future Words* book
- Authors credit AI for creating the book, acknowledging its influence on cultural language and trends
- AI safety leader Nate Soares stopped saving for retirement due to existential AI risks, per *Business Insider*
The authors credit AI for enabling the project, noting its role in shaping cultural narratives. Meanwhile, a Business Insider report highlights Nate Soares, president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, who stopped saving for retirement due to AI safety concerns. The piece muses whether these invented words will enter common usage or fade alongside fleeting online purchases.
From puregatory to lifehoarding – how best to describe our strange, anxious times?
The Guardian AI · 2 November 2026
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This text was published by The Guardian AI and written by Emma Beddington. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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