OpenAI chief Sam Altman says, ‘real people have picked up quirks of LLM-speak’

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has ignited a critical conversation about the nature of online interactions, suggesting that many users now exhibit characteristics typical of language models. In a recent post on X, Altman stated, "I assume it's all fake/bots, even though I know Codex growth is really strong and the trend here is real." This remark underscores the rising concerns regarding the volume of AI-generated content proliferating across social media and the difficulties individuals encounter in discerning human engagement from automated interactions. On September 8, 2025, Altman elaborated on this issue, mentioning several factors influencing the phenomenon. He noted that users are increasingly adopting what he termed 'LLM-speak,' which reflects a blending of human and AI language patterns. The dynamics of the 'Extremely Online' community, the ebb and flow of the hype cycle, and the optimization strategies of social media platforms all contribute to an environment that feels unusually artificial compared to previous years. Furthermore, Altman pointed to OpenAI's Codex, designed to assist with coding tasks, as a vital tool experiencing genuine growth, despite the overarching perception of fakeness within AI-driven social spaces. The response from the online community has been mixed, with many users expressing both agreement and apprehension about the implications of this linguistic evolution. One user remarked, "If 'real people have picked up quirks of LLM-speak' means we’re beginning to sound like the AI companions we interact with, then yes, that's likely occurring." Another user noted the unsettling human-like qualities of bots, suggesting that the infiltration of 'LLM-speak' into everyday conversations is blurring the lines between authentic and artificial communication. Altman's insights reveal a pressing issue in today's digital landscape: AI is not merely a tool for content generation but is also transforming the ways in which humans communicate online.