Future Tense: Chapters 17–20

by Martha Brockenbrough
This work of nonfiction discusses the past and future of artificial intelligence, from its earliest precursors to the ways it might impact society as it develops.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–12, Chapters 13–16, Chapters 17–20, Chapters 21–23
15 words 5 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. trajectory
    a progression or course of events, actions, or developments
    And as AI continues to evolve and expand its capabilities, it is likely to play an increasingly prominent role in shaping the trajectory of US-China relations and the future of global power dynamics.
  2. rampant
    occurring or increasing in an unrestrained way
    That led to rampant fraud and corruption.
  3. effeminate
    lacking traits typically associated with men or masculinity
    Before it was in place, banks could deny a person credit for being messy, having brown skin, or using “effeminate gestures.”
  4. vie
    compete for something
    As these two nations vie for dominance, individuals’ rights could take a beating.
  5. perpetuate
    cause to continue or prevail
    If the US cleans up its technology so that it protects human rights and doesn’t perpetuate racial bias, then it offers a clear alternative to partner nations.
  6. extort
    obtain by coercion or intimidation
    Such attacks don’t necessarily come from foreign governments, either; they can also come from people trying to extort money from their victims.
  7. unprecedented
    novel; having no earlier occurrence
    We’re at a point unprecedented in the history of espionage, according to a report at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
  8. espionage
    the systematic use of spies to obtain secrets
    We’re at a point unprecedented in the history of espionage, according to a report at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
  9. rapport
    a relationship of mutual understanding between people
    Despite this, there is often more rivalry than rapport.
  10. weaponize
    make into or use as an instrument for fighting
    Another spot for AI to be weaponized is with information warfare, which has three forms.
  11. clout
    special advantage or influence
    In the past, the jobs that tended to disappear were ones done by people with less education, social clout, or political power.
  12. fallacy
    a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning
    But it’s not hard to see the fallacy in that by considering the lessons of recent history.
  13. foray
    an initial attempt
    When you take a toddler to a new playground, for example, they might wipe out on their first foray into the wood chips.
  14. intermittent
    stopping and starting at irregular intervals
    There are many reasons doctors might want to monitor a patient’s body more frequently or for longer than they’d be able to during an office visit. They might want to catch something intermittent, or they might want to have frequent, high-resolution monitoring of what’s going on with your body.
  15. aspiration
    a cherished desire
    And someday, the developers of AI-powered artificial limbs predict, we might use the same tech to strengthen our biological limbs—or even implant new ones. Why would anyone want to do this? Besides superhero aspirations, it’s possibly the sort of equipment some employers might begin requiring.
Created on Thu Jun 25 07:59:45 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Jul 28 11:43:56 EDT 2026)

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