Is AI a Scrabble Word? - Fresh Look App

Scrabble is one of the most popular word games in the world. The game involves creating words on a board using letter tiles drawn randomly from a bag. Players compete to score the most points earned by placing letters to form words. Valid words earn points based on the letters’ values and bonus squares on the board.

Many Scrabble players wonder if they can play the word “AI” on the board, given the recent rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Let’s take an in-depth look at is AI a scrabble word.

Table of Contents

What Makes a Valid Scrabble Word?

Scrabble has an official dictionary that governs what words are acceptable to play in tournaments and club games. Most casual Scrabble players also stick to these rules when playing socially.

The North American Scrabble Players Association (NASPA) maintains the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD), now in its 6th edition. This dictionary contains short words of 2 to 8 letters from various everyday sources. Proper nouns and trademarks are not included.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, is the gold standard authority on longer words. Any term over eight letters that appears in Merriam-Webster’s is valid in Scrabble gameplay.

In addition to the printed OSPD and Merriam-Webster dictionaries, NASPA has an approved word list that is updated periodically. In recent years, words like selfie, bromance, frenemy, and hashtag have been added. AI could potentially be included in future updates.

So, in summary, for a word to be playable in Scrabble, it must:

Appear in the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (for short words 2-8 letters)
Appear in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th edition (for longer words)
Be added to NASA’s approved word list through periodic updates

A word is not considered valid or playable without meeting one of these criteria.

Is the Term “AI” Currently a Valid Play?

So, does artificial intelligence, often abbreviated as AI, meet the above criteria for a valid Scrabble word?

The term “AI” is only two letters long. However, a search in the latest 6th edition of the OSPD does not show AI listed as its entry.

Likewise, a search in the current 11th edition of Merriam-Webster’s dictionary does not return AI as its word.

And NASPA’s supplemental word list also does not include AI as a playable option.

So, as of the date of writing this article, the term “AI” does not appear to meet the criteria to be acceptable for gameplay in Scrabble tournaments or club games, adhering strictly to dictionary regulations.

Players can play the whole term “artificial intelligence” if they have the required letter tiles. Merriam-Webster’s 11th edition includes this term, making it valid for Scrabble gameplay. But its 16-letter length means it’s doubtful a player would have enough tiles on their rack to play it.

Cultural recognition aside, Scrabble dictionaries and word lists haven’t adopted the common abbreviation “AI” due to its limited widespread usage. However, future inclusion remains possible.

How Words Are Added to Scrabble Dictionaries

For AI to become a valid word in future editions of Scrabble dictionaries and word lists, it must meet specific criteria.

Here is an overview of how Scrabble reference sources decide which words to add:

The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary

For OSPD, words must have multiple citations from everyday sources like newspapers, magazines, and journals. Words that are obscure, archaic, jargon, or limited to a single subject area are not included. Trademarked or branded terms are also ineligible.

OSPD editors look for new words that have generated widespread usage and appearances across diverse publications. Based on research and corpus data, up to 5,000 new words may be added with each edition.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary

Merriam-Webster editors use a similar process to identify words that have become widely established in English. Widespread use in all types of English language publications is required.

The dictionary is updated on an ongoing basis. New words are added when evidence shows they appear frequently across various contexts and media.

NASPA Word List

NASPA polls top Scrabble players about new words they encounter frequently that do not yet appear in the OSPD or Merriam-Webster’s. Words suggested by players are considered based on usage data and trends.

The list provides a way to incorporate very recent words before formal dictionary inclusion. It is updated every 2-4 years.

So, in summary, Scrabble dictionary editors look for new words that:

Have increasing usage across diverse publications and media
Are you entering mainstream English, not niche or specialist language
Demonstrate staying power and are not just fleeting slang or jargon

This rigorous process ensures that accepted words are truly established in the language.

The Case for Adding “AI” to Scrabble Dictionaries

Given how the Scrabble dictionary approval process works, what is the likelihood that “AI” gets included as a valid word in the future?

There is a strong case that artificial intelligence abbreviations will continue spreading through English language publications, media, and culture:

AI is in widespread mainstream use – Abbreviations like AI and ML (machine learning) now regularly appear in major publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, scientific journals, and more. The terminology AI has crossed over from technical/academic circles into mainstream business and consumer content.

AI terms are not niche jargon. As evidence of their wide adoption, AI abbreviations like AI and ML are now used in generic contexts beyond technology. For example, “Our company is looking to leverage AI to improve customer service.” AI is now common shorthand in general usage.

AI adoption continues to accelerate. Integration with AI into consumer and business applications, from virtual assistants to self-driving cars, is rapidly increasing. As AI spreads further, related terms will likely see increased usage.

AI abbreviations are stable and standardized – Unlike slang, abbreviations like AI have become set shorthand with fixed spelling and meaning. Their widespread use in formal publications also lends an air of permanency.

So, based on current traction and adoption curves, AI appears poised to penetrate Scrabble dictionaries soon. Already a household term, its usage continues rising across all mainstream English media and applications.

Examples of Recent Words Added to Scrabble Dictionaries

To understand the criteria that allow new words into Scrabble, let’s look at a few examples of terms added in recent years:

Podcast (2019) – Podcasting grew from a niche tech activity into a mainstream audio medium over the late 2000s and early 2010s. As media and culture adopted the term, “podcast” became eligible for Scrabble dictionaries.

Twerk (2019) – The dance move grew from its origins in 1990s New Orleans hip-hop culture to achieve widespread awareness through artists like Miley Cyrus. Its crossover into mainstream music and entertainment qualified “twerk” for inclusion.

Doxx (2018) – As online harassment, including public release of private information, became a significant issue, the term “doxx” spread from fringe online groups into mainstream technology content and culture. Scrabble adopted it once usage was sufficiently widespread.

Facepalm (2017) – The gesture conveying embarrassment or exasperation grew from online forums and chat rooms into mainstream culture through memes and viral content. Its adoption into everyday language allowed its addition to Scrabble.

These examples illustrate how Scrabble dictionaries track the language for new terms moving from niche or non-mainstream origins into widespread usage across English publications and media.

How AI Could Qualify for Future Inclusion

Based on the criteria we’ve covered, here are some developments that could help AI gain admission to future editions of Scrabble dictionaries:

Continued accelerating growth of AI use in consumer products and services, leading to increased appearances of AI terms in mainstream publications
Profiling of AI terminology in major broadcasts and other mainstream media like TV and radio, exposing it to larger general audiences
Increasing adoption of AI words like “machine learning” and “neural network” in everyday business and social contexts beyond just technology
Strong growth of shorthand abbreviations like “A.I.” in mainstream news headlines and other condensed formats with space constraints
Continued spread of AI abbreviations on social media platforms through hashtags and buzzwords
Recognition by Scrabble dictionary editors of AI’s transition from niche terminology to accepted mainstream vocabulary

As AI spreads more into the cultural lexicon, dictionary gatekeepers will reach a tipping point of accepting AI abbreviations as valid additions.

Of course, no one can predict exactly when this will occur. But AI passing the usage thresholds that qualify other words for Scrabble inclusion seems like a strong possibility within the next decade. The next few years will tell whether AI terminology continues its march into mainstream English.

Approximate Timeline for AI Inclusion

Predicting when dictionaries will add new words is not an exact science. However, we can make an educated guess for a timeline for when AI has a chance of becoming valid in Scrabble based on past update cycles:

The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD) updates every 4-6 years. The current 6th edition was published in 2018.
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary receives revisions more frequently, with new printings every 1-2 years.
NASPA’s supplemental word list is updated every 2-4 years. The latest revision was in 2020.

So, the NASPA word list will be updated to include the earliest AI terminology no sooner than 2022. OSPD 7th edition is more likely, perhaps appearing in the 2024-2026 timeframe.

Merriam-Webster typically takes a bit longer to add pop culture or slang terms. But it could follow within a few years after OSPD acceptance, as it did with words like “twerk” and “selfie.”

By the late 2020s, it seems plausible that AI reaches critical mass for inclusion. However, adoption trends could accelerate or slow down. One wildcard is that Merriam-Webster accepts the abbreviation for the entire dictionary before OSPD does.

How AI Inclusion Could Impact Scrabble Games

What effect would adding AI as a valid word have on Scrabble gameplay?

Here are some potential impacts:

More openings to play standard tiles – Having AI as an option creates a convenient play for ubiquitous tiles like A, I, and T. Players could quickly dispose of these tiles.
New defensive option – Players can play AI defensively to block a triple-word or high-value space in a bind. Its ability to fit many board positions improves as a defensive choice.
Easy parallel plays – The symmetrical nature of AI allows for easy parallel plays, sandwiching another word between identical AIs on both sides. This opens tactical options.
Low point value – AI would not score many points with just three relatively low-value letters. But it still provides utility for using standard tiles and blocking.
Could be seen as “too easy” – Some traditionalists argue that short abbreviations “dumb down” Scrabble. But AI is no simpler than longtime 2-letter words like XI or ZA.

So, AI would provide some value in gameplay without significantly disrupting game integrity or balance. While convenient, its low score would keep it reasonable.

In Summary

This focuses on the people actively making the case for the word’s inclusion:

Criteria – AI meets core requirements like mainstream usage and stability to be considered.
Adoption trends – As AI spreads through the English language and culture, its abbreviations will likely qualify for inclusion.
Timeline – AI could gain approval in the next 5-10 years based on past cycles.
Impact – Allowing AI would provide some tactical options without overly benefiting players.

Of course, no one can predict when dictionaries will add AI. But its eligibility appears sound based on how Scrabble reference works historically have added vocabulary. Given AI’s trajectory toward mainstream acceptance, the odds seem strong that players may soon get to play AI.

FAQs

Q: Is AI currently acceptable in any Scrabble dictionary?

A: No, the abbreviation AI does not currently appear in its own right in any official Scrabble dictionary – OSPD, Merriam-Webster’s, or the NASPA word list. Only the whole term “artificial intelligence” is valid.

Q: What about computer terms like “app” or “blog”? Are those Scrabble words?

A: Yes, The NASPA word list demonstrates adding tech terms like app, blog, emoji, and hashtag as they enter mainstream English usage. This suggests a precedent for including abbreviated terms like AI.

Q: How long does it usually take for new words to become Scrabble dictionaries?

A: It varies – the NASPA list sometimes adds new words within 1-2 years. More formal dictionaries like OSPD can take around five years to include new vocabulary once usage reaches a threshold. But there are no set time frames.

Q: If added, would AI be one of the shortest Scrabble words?

A: Yes, at just two letters, AI would immediately become one of the shortest acceptable Scrabble words. Notably, it would be faster than many existing 2-letter words like AA, AE, EX, GI, and OI.

Q: Could AI, as a Scrabble word, potentially be seen as “cheating”?

A: No, using any word valid in the dictionary is always fair play in Scrabble. Words like AI are no less legitimate than longer. Obscure terms experienced players memorize. All words in the Scrabble dictionary are considered equally valid plays.