Generative AI and lexical change in digital discourse: a systematic review of empirical linguistic research (2023–2026)

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly emerged as a transformative force in digital communication, reshaping contemporary language use and accelerating lexical change across online environments. A growing number of empirical studies have examined various aspects of generative AI, including AI-assisted writing, digital discourse, language use, and computational linguistics, thereby, limited research has systematically synthesized how generative AI influences lexical change in digital discourse from a linguistic perspective. The present study aims to systematically review empirical linguistic research published between January 2023 and May 2026 to examine the influence of generative AI on lexical change, identify recurring patterns of lexical innovation, and synthesize the existing body of evidence. Guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework, the review analyzes 59 empirical studies collected from peer-reviewed journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) using descriptive analysis and thematic synthesis. The findings reveal that generative AI accelerates lexical innovation through the emergence of AI-related terminology, promotes the diffusion of newly coined lexical items across digital platforms, and contributes to semantic expansion and diverse word-formation processes. Additionally, the review identifies recurring linguistic patterns that demonstrate the evolving relationship between AI technologies and contemporary digital communication. Future research should expand empirical investigations to multilingual digital environments and longitudinal contexts to develop a more comprehensive understanding of AI-driven lexical change across diverse linguistic communities.