Iceland's Former Prime Minister Warns of Language Disappearance Due to AI Dominance
The Icelandic language is facing an uncertain future as the country continues to embrace technology and the globalized world. The warning comes from Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Iceland's former prime minister, who fears that if drastic measures are not taken, her native language could disappear in just a few generations.
According to Jakobsdóttir, the Icelandic language is being eroded as more people switch to English, both for everyday communication and literary pursuits. This trend has been exacerbated by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in language models, which are increasingly being used to train machines on vast amounts of text data. As a result, many young Icelanders are struggling to keep up with the Icelandic language.
"We're just one generation away from losing this language," said Ragnar Jónasson, Jakobsdóttir's co-author and fellow writer. "The changes happening now are enormous, and we need to take action to preserve it."
Jakobsdóttir cited Iceland's experience during its time under Danish rule as a cautionary tale. When the Icelandic language was exposed to Danish influences, it underwent significant changes that threatened its very existence. However, the Icelandic people rallied together, defending their language and culture.
This time around, Jakobsdóttir fears that the tide may be turning in favor of English dominance. "We need a stronger movement now to talk about why we want to preserve the language," she emphasized. "If we don't take action, the fate of our nation could hang in the balance."
Jakobsdóttir's concerns are not just theoretical; they have real-world implications for the creative industry and the authors who rely on Icelandic as their primary language. The use of AI-powered tools has already begun to erode the authorship of some works, with people forging relationships with machines that can mimic human writing styles.
While Jakobsdóttir acknowledges the potential benefits of AI, she believes its risks outweigh its rewards for now. "We're in a very challenging time," she said, "and my personal opinion is that governments should prioritize developing AI responsibly."
Jakobsdóttir's latest novel, set in 1989, is part of an effort to connect with readers on a human level and preserve the Icelandic language through storytelling. Her experiences as a writer and prime minister have given her a unique perspective on the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
Reading and writing have always been therapeutic for Jakobsdóttir, allowing her to tap into the empathy and understanding that comes from experiencing other people's stories. As she navigates this uncertain future, she remains committed to promoting the value of Icelandic language and culture through her work.
The Icelandic language is facing an uncertain future as the country continues to embrace technology and the globalized world. The warning comes from Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Iceland's former prime minister, who fears that if drastic measures are not taken, her native language could disappear in just a few generations.
According to Jakobsdóttir, the Icelandic language is being eroded as more people switch to English, both for everyday communication and literary pursuits. This trend has been exacerbated by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in language models, which are increasingly being used to train machines on vast amounts of text data. As a result, many young Icelanders are struggling to keep up with the Icelandic language.
"We're just one generation away from losing this language," said Ragnar Jónasson, Jakobsdóttir's co-author and fellow writer. "The changes happening now are enormous, and we need to take action to preserve it."
Jakobsdóttir cited Iceland's experience during its time under Danish rule as a cautionary tale. When the Icelandic language was exposed to Danish influences, it underwent significant changes that threatened its very existence. However, the Icelandic people rallied together, defending their language and culture.
This time around, Jakobsdóttir fears that the tide may be turning in favor of English dominance. "We need a stronger movement now to talk about why we want to preserve the language," she emphasized. "If we don't take action, the fate of our nation could hang in the balance."
Jakobsdóttir's concerns are not just theoretical; they have real-world implications for the creative industry and the authors who rely on Icelandic as their primary language. The use of AI-powered tools has already begun to erode the authorship of some works, with people forging relationships with machines that can mimic human writing styles.
While Jakobsdóttir acknowledges the potential benefits of AI, she believes its risks outweigh its rewards for now. "We're in a very challenging time," she said, "and my personal opinion is that governments should prioritize developing AI responsibly."
Jakobsdóttir's latest novel, set in 1989, is part of an effort to connect with readers on a human level and preserve the Icelandic language through storytelling. Her experiences as a writer and prime minister have given her a unique perspective on the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
Reading and writing have always been therapeutic for Jakobsdóttir, allowing her to tap into the empathy and understanding that comes from experiencing other people's stories. As she navigates this uncertain future, she remains committed to promoting the value of Icelandic language and culture through her work.
. I mean think about it, they're already making machines that can mimic human writing styles... what's next? Are we gonna lose our own identities too? 
I feel bad for the younger gen in Iceland who are struggling to keep up with their native tongue 
. They need more support and initiatives to preserve the language and culture. Governments should definitely be involved and prioritize responsible AI development 
... like, I get it, AI is amazing & all, but we gotta think about the future of our languages too 
. It's crazy how fast things can change, right? Like, one generation & Icelandic could be gone forever 
. We need more people like Katrín speaking out on this & creating a movement to save the language 
. I mean, it's not just about Iceland, it's about preserving our culture & identity too 
. Governments should definitely be taking this seriously & finding ways to balance progress with preservation 
. And I'm loving that Katrín is using her writing as a way to connect with people & promote the language 
... more authors like her would be amazing! Let's hope we can make a difference before it's too late 
It's like, we're already seeing it happen with social media, people are more likely to share in English than their native tongues. And now AI is taking over too? 
. Katrín Jakobsdóttir is right on point with her warning. We gotta take action before it's too late 
.
. I think it's understandable that Katrín Jakobsdóttir is worried, especially since her native language is already facing some challenges. It's like when you're trying to learn a new skill and then someone teaches you how to do it on autopilot - the old way just gets pushed aside 
. I think we need more research on this topic before we start making decisions about how to use it. Like, what are the potential benefits of using AI for creative writing? Are there any downsides that we're not seeing yet?
. I think that's a great way to keep her native language alive, even if it's just through storytelling. Who knows, maybe one day everyone will be writing in Icelandic again 
.
it's like we're losing control over how we communicate with each other. I mean think about it, when was the last time you used a phrase or sentence that no machine can repeat? For me, writing on this platform is one of those things, but even then, AI-powered tools are starting to get too good 
what's wrong with embracing change, but also taking steps to preserve our unique identity? It's all about balance, right? 
. we need more authors like katrin jakobsdottir who are passionate about promoting the value of their culture through their work 
. AI is not meant to replace human writers, it's meant to be a tool to help us create & communicate better 
. Seriously though, Katrín Jakobsdóttir is right on point about the language disappearing thingy. I mean, have you tried teaching a young'un Icelandic? Good luck with that! 
As if AI wasn't bad enough, now we gotta worry about machines writing our stories for us? That's like having a robot do your taxes – no thanks! 
i mean, what happens when everyone speaks english? no one has a say in their own culture anymore. katrin jökulsdóttir is right, we need to act fast before it's too late 
That would be really sad! I think it's awesome that she's using her writing as a way to promote the language and culture, maybe we should all try doing something similar too 
.
. it's scary to think that future generations might not be able to communicate in their own language. and yeah, ai is definitely playing a role in this - i mean, who needs to learn how to write when you can just use a machine