The Society for German Language (GfdS) has declared “KI-Ära” – the AI Era – as its Word of the Year for 2025, a designation reflecting a profound societal shift and sparking debate about the future of language and critical thought. The announcement, made Friday in Wiesbaden, acknowledges the pervasive integration of artificial intelligence into everyday life, moving it far beyond academic circles and impacting the core of German society.
The selection follows a pattern of rising concern regarding AI’s influence, with previous years recognizing the “AI Boom” (2023) and the “Generative Shift” (2024). The GfdS emphasizes that the current juncture marks the beginning of a distinct era, one brimming with potential but also fraught with significant risks.
While lauding the accessibility and productivity gains offered by AI tools – utilized increasingly for internet research, photo manipulation and text generation – the GfdS raises cautionary flags. The organization voiced anxieties that widespread adoption could erode independent critical thinking, speech and written expression. This potential degradation of cognitive skills poses a direct threat to intellectual rigor and could contribute to the passive consumption of AI-generated content.
The declaration isn’t merely celebratory; it’s a pointed observation about the precarious position of language itself. The GfdS suggests that the ubiquity of AI will inevitably reshape the evolution of the German language, likely in unpredictable and potentially detrimental ways. Observers are already questioning whether AI will homogenize expression or create entirely new linguistic patterns, raising deeper questions about the preservation of cultural identity and intellectual autonomy in a world increasingly reliant on algorithmic assistance. The selection serves as a challenge to policymakers and educators to proactively address the societal and linguistic implications of this ongoing AI revolution.
