Words for a Future
That’s Already Here
Welcome to The Dictionary of Present Futures, founded by Samuel Salzer: a growing lexicon giving language to the emotions, experiences, and realities shaping humanity’s relationship with AI.
Welcome to our present future.
We’re rushing headlong into a reality that once seemed like science fiction. Overnight, it seems we woke up and discovered: we’re already living in tomorrow. Machines write our code, generate our images, compose our music, and even guide our decisions. Suddenly, we need new mental frameworks, fresh rules of engagement, and above all, a shared vocabulary to describe these unfamiliar experiences.
I’m Samuel Salzer, a behavioral scientist keenly aware of language’s power to shape our collective understanding. We speak about “the future” as though it’s always just beyond the horizon, yet it’s already here. We stand at a moment of profound change, and how we talk about it will determine how we adapt, collaborate, and ultimately thrive.
That’s why I created The Dictionary of Present Futures—a living archive of words and phrases designed to crystallize the novel feelings and phenomena emerging in this tech-driven era. Each term invites us to notice and name a facet of life we’ve never fully articulated. It’s an ongoing project I’ve built with help from various AI models, including Loveable, OpenAI’s o1, and with insights from the wider community.
By grounding these neologisms in a shared lexicon, I hope to help us navigate a present that can feel dizzying, thrilling, and sometimes overwhelming. I also believe in giving credit where it’s due—both to the humans originating fresh ideas and to the algorithms fueling unexpected discoveries. Words anchor our collective vision; they allow us to refine our aspirations, confront our anxieties, and sketch a clearer view of this “present future.”
– Samuel Salzer, Creator of The Dictionary of Present Futures
*This project takes inspiration from the tradition of naming indescribable experiences, a lineage that includes works like The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows and Urban Dictionary.
Share Your Word.
Shape Our Present Future.
If you've coined a term or noticed something new, share it here—help name the future that's currently unfolding.
Submit Your Word