New words – 4 May 2026

Maria Casinos / iStock / Getty Images Plus

superworker noun [C]
UK /ˈsuː.pə.wɜː.kəʳ/ US /ˈsuː.pə.wɝː.kɚ/
someone who works much more productively by using AI tools that can carry out tasks and act on their behalf

Bersin has coined the term “superworker” for how AI is amplifying what an individual can achieve at work. “People don’t have the energy to have another conference call to talk about this and that. But you can wake the digital twin up in the middle of the night and talk to it for an hour – it doesn’t care. It’s incredibly valuable,” says Bersin.
[bbc.co.uk, 17 April 2026]

proof of humanity noun [C]
UK /ˌpruːf əv hjuːˈmæn.ə.ti/ US /ˌpruːf əv hjuːˈmæn.ə.t̬i/
confirmation that the user of an app is a real person and not a bot, usually provided as a result of biometric checks

Tinder will let users prove they are human and not robots by bringing advanced eye-scanning technology to the app amid rising fears over AI. Users of the dating app, as well as other major platforms such as video calling service Zoom, will be able to scan their irises to earn a “proof of humanity” badge attached to their profile or name.
[bbc.co.uk, 17 April 2026]

Vulnpocalypse noun [C]
UK /ˌvʌlnˈpɒk.ə.lɪps/ US /ˌvʌln.ˈpɑː.kə.lɪps/
a potential increase in cyberattacks as AI tools find weaknesses in an IT system faster than they can be fixed

As AI grows more capable of identifying software vulnerabilities, experts are increasingly warning of a potential disaster scenario: the so-called “Vulnpocalypse.” Hackers could quickly turbocharge their attacks with AI technology designed to identify holes in cyber defenses, security researchers warn. This week, that scenario started to feel less theoretical.
[nbcnews.com, 11 April 2026]

About new words

3 thoughts on “New words – 4 May 2026

Leave a Reply