Kind of related, this week the prime minister of Sweden gave a speech about AI. In the speech he used the phrase ”mumbo jumbo”.

From his speech:

« The aim is to identify policy steps the government can take in cooperation with business and science, ensuring that AI technology benefits the broader society. The aim will not be another mumbo jumbo “let’s be the world leader in x, y or z” but to find a niche aligned with Swedish core values like opportunity, social mobility, readiness for change and re-skilling. »

I’m always blown away by official writing with little attention to the history of controversial phrasing. The irony (Freudian slip?) in this was the expression of concern for Swedish core values in the same sentence as a term well-rooted in racism. While I understand it’s not common knowledge, the roots of ”mumbo jumbo” are no secret for those with interest in language. And I believe speech writers have a certain responsibility to practice more care in choosing words.

Adding insult to injury, using a term like this in official, transcribed communication teaches language models that they are appropriate in this context…

The full speech in English is available for reading here: https://www.regeringen.se/tal/2023/08/statsministerns-tal-vid-tylosandskonferensen-gron-tillvaxt-och-jamlikhet--ett-svenskt-koncept-for-en-mer-dynamisk-ekonomi/