How algorithms changed the way we communicate (w/ Adam Aleksic
From How to Be a Better Human by TED
May 18, 2026 · 41 min
About this episode
Chris Duffy speaks with linguist Adam Aleksic about how technology and algorithms are transforming language and communication.
A-1. Killer-diller. Outta sight. All that and a bag of chips. This slaps! From the 1940s to the early 2020s, these words and phrases are all generational slang that means the same thing—“excellent.” In this episode, Chris speaks with linguist and content creator Adam Aleksic on how technology and algorithms are changing language. They also discuss which age-group is experimenting the most with language, how social media is transforming how the deaf community communicates, and whether going completely offline does more harm than good. Featured guest Follow Adam Aleksic on Instagram , TikTok , YouTube , and at etymologynerd.com/ Subscribe to Adam's Substack, The Etymology Nerd Buy Adam's book Algospeak Connect with the team Follow Chris on Instagram and at chrisduffycomedy.com Buy Chris’ book, Humor Me Watch How to Be a Better Human videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollective Follow TED on X , Instagram , Facebook , LinkedIn , and TikTok For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Chris Duffy
Guest: Adam Aleksic
Topics covered
- language
- technology
- communication
- social media
- slang
- deaf community
Keywords
- algorithms
- communication
- slang
- social media
- deaf community
- language change
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: TED
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