As we work to improve our communication skills with robots, other languages are also being developed.
In January 2025, we were discussing the impact of artificial intelligence, the speed of its development, the jobs it will replace, and the time it will save businesses. What was missing was instructions on how to communicate.
Over the last year, that has been my biggest takeaway from AI. We need to know the facts very clearly, very specifically, and very well so that we can give AI foolproof instructions and be confident that the robots are not making up information on their own or using untrusted sources to please, impress, or distract us while secretly planning world domination.
As we work to improve our communication skills with robots, other languages are also being developed. Now, in January 2026, we are trying to work effectively with robots. Gen Z has created some kind of their own code and uses it among themselves. This confuses baby boomers and Gen
Lately, I've decided to try to crack the code, and I'm happy to see that it's already listed in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Here are some new vocabulary words you'll probably hear or see this new year.
““Deruru'' is also good, it's a variation of “delusion''. Why do we need variations? No one old enough can answer this, but the word on the street and on TikTok is that delulu is an adjective, meaning to hold unrealistic beliefs. Here's how to use it in a sentence: “Don't be fooled by the silly words in Scrabble, the ancient board game popular among baby boomers.”
““Liz” is a new word that I actually like. It's an abbreviation for the noun “charisma,” which means charm, style, and charm, and is often used as in “That Boomer's got a lot of Liz!”
“The term “dumb phone” makes a lot of sense to me. This is the opposite of a smartphone. Use it like this: “Many boomers are nostalgic about the flip phones of the early 2000s, but these are classic dumb phones, and if you still have one, it's definitely time to upgrade, because every generation is laughing at you.”
““6-7” is expressed using hand gestures. When Gen Zers use this, they may notice their hands pointing up and down, palms facing the sky, as if weighing something. Some people interpret a 6-7 as rating something “fair,” while others believe it's a good thing, a compliment. We recommend refraining from using them until we know more about 6-7. Otherwise, you may insult yourself or others. For example, “Wow, that's a 6-7 tennis serve!” ”
““Hardpass” is a phrase that has permeated mainstream conversation. It means to reject something significantly. Here we present the conversation in the hope that it will be helpful. Speaker A: “My nieces use a lot of crazy words. Is it really worth damaging my brain to follow what they say?” Speaker B: “No, definitely not. Give me a hard pass.”
“I'm sure the word “skibidi” was simply designed to throw another generation off. Skibidi reportedly has both “cool” and “bad” meanings, which means you should be careful in its use:
Please note that the research for this column was inspired, in part, by an online source called “Word Smarts” and writer Rachel Gresh. But the main proponents of this were grandparents, aunts, uncles, and aunts of Boomers and Gen FBN
Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Bonnie Stevens is FBN's editor. She is a career journalist and public relations consultant. She can be reached at bonnie.stevens@gmail.com.
