On 24 January 2026, UNESCO celebrates the International Day of Education, and this year’s theme looks at how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the way we learn, focusing on both the opportunities and challenges of using AI in education.
If you’re preparing for IELTS, this is relevant to you too. Maybe you’re already using AI tools to study for the test and improve your English.
AI is everywhere these days from the way we browse the internet to how we interact with businesses.
In this article, we’ll show you how to discuss AI confidently, not just in your IELTS test, but also in whatever comes next. By learning this language, you’ll feel prepared to take part in one of the most significant changes facing education and daily life today.
Why AI vocabulary matters for IELTS
Artificial intelligence is transforming almost every industry and influencing countless everyday tasks.
The IELTS Writing and Speaking tests cover a wide range of topics, and AI is increasingly part of discussions about education, technology, health, employment, the environment or wider changes in society.
In the Writing test, you might choose to use an example of artificial intelligence to support an argument in your essay. Or AI might come up when you’re discussing issues and speculating about the future in your IELTS Speaking test.
Using accurate and relevant language not only impresses examiners by showing your vocabulary range and precision, but it also prepares you for success beyond the test, helping you feel future-ready for English-speaking study and work environments.
How to discuss AI in your IELTS test
The English language is constantly evolving and right now, AI is adding plenty of new words to our vocabulary. Macquarie Dictionary recently named ‘AI slop’ its Word of the Year for 2025, while Cambridge Dictionary chose ‘parasocial,’ another AI-related term.
To help you keep up, we’ve created a list of common AI words and phrases with examples, so you can use them confidently in your IELTS test and beyond.
Top AI vocabulary
Word/phrase | Word class | Meaning | Example sentence |
generative AI | noun | a type of artificial intelligence that creates new content like text, images, or music based on patterns it has learned. | Generative AI can write a short story when you give it a topic. |
AI tool | noun | software that uses artificial intelligence to perform tasks or assist users. | Many doctors are using AI tools to take notes during patient consultations. |
AI-generated | adjective | something that was created by artificial intelligence instead of by a human. | He used AI-generated images in his presentation. |
AI-assisted | adjective | a task that is done with help from artificial intelligence, not completely by AI. | AI-assisted learning helps teachers create more personalised lesson plans for their students. |
prompt | noun/verb | the instructions you give to an AI system to tell it what to do. | You need to give a clear prompt so the AI tool understands what you want. |
prompt engineering | noun | the skill of writing good prompts so AI gives the best answers. | I’m doing a LinkedIn Learning course on prompt engineering. |
large language model (LLM) | noun | an AI system trained on large amounts of text to understand and generate language. | ChatGPT is a large language model that can answer questions and produce content. |
machine learning | noun | a way for computers to learn from data and improve without being programmed for every step. | Streaming services like Netflix use machine learning to predict what movies you might like. |
deep learning | noun | a type of machine learning that uses many layers of data processing. | Deep learning helps AI recognise faces in photos. |
AI slop | noun (informal) | low-quality content made by AI, often containing errors. | The article was full of AI slop and didn’t make sense. |
chatbot | noun | an AI program that talks with people through text or voice. | The website uses a chatbot to answer customer questions. |
parasocial | adjective | describes a one-sided relationship where someone feels close to a person or character who doesn’t know them. It can be used to describe people’s relationships with celebrities, influencers or AI companions/chatbots. | Fans often have parasocial feelings toward celebrities they follow online. |
augmentation/augment | noun/verb | using technology to make human work better or stronger. | AI can augment human creativity by suggesting new ideas. |
automation/automate | noun/verb | using technology to do tasks without human effort. | Companies are using AI to automate invoice processing. |
AI ethics | noun | rules and ideas about how to use artificial intelligence in a fair and safe way. | The company’s discussion on AI ethics focused on privacy, bias, and transparency. |
vibe coding | noun (informal) | An experimental approach to computer coding where people use everyday language to tell AI what kind of code to write. | He didn’t have any training in programming, so he used vibe coding to create a quick prototype. |
human-in-the-loop (HITL) | noun phrase | A collaborative approach where a human helps an automated system to make decisions. The person checks, corrects, or approves what AI or the machine does. | The hospital uses a human-in-the-loop system, so doctors can confirm AI-generated diagnoses before treatment. |
deepfake | noun | a video, image or audio clip that uses AI to swap someone’s face or voice with another person’s, making it look or sound real. | The video was a deepfake of a famous actress saying something she never said. |
clanker | noun (informal) | A negative term for a robot powered by artificial intelligence that performs tasks usually done by humans. | Instead of hiring more staff, they deployed a clanker. |
How to practise AI vocabulary for IELTS success
The best way to remember new words is to practise them regularly. Try one of these activities to use AI vocabulary into your next study session:
Use AI to study AI: Prompt an AI tool to give you more information or examples for one of the words from the vocabulary list above.*
Use the words in context: Write some practice sentences using vocabulary from the list above.
Participate in online discussions about AI: Comment on a social media post or share your opinion in a forum.
AI and you: Record yourself talking about examples of AI you’ve seen or used over the past week.
Do a practice essay: Write an IELTS essay about artificial intelligence. Discuss two different views on using AI in schools or universities.
*Remember that information provided by AI tools might contain errors or inaccuracies, so always check the details they provide using trusted sources.
Final thoughts
This International Day of Education, get together with friends or classmates and take time to discuss how AI is impacting your learning experiences.
This isn’t just about practising AI vocabulary for your IELTS test. It’s also a great way to improve your critical thinking and join an important global conversation about ensuring AI development reflects human values.
Planning to study abroad in 2026?
Get advice on choosing a degree that remains relevant in the age of AI with our 2025–26 AI-safe degrees to study abroad report.