noun
/noo-jən-ə-fo-bee-uh/
Definition:
The irrational (or maybe totally rational?) fear of artificial minds — especially the kind of AI that can think, learn, and maybe one day decide humans are inefficient meatbags.
This isn’t just being scared of robots vacuuming your house. This is existential dread about super-intelligent machines writing poetry, cracking jokes, or plotting to take over the world… while you’re still figuring out how to unmute yourself on Zoom.
Origin:
From the Greek nous (mind), genesis (creation), and phobos (fear). Coined in 2025 to describe the creeping anxiety that your toaster might soon have better ideas than you.
/noo-jən-ə-fo-bee-uh/
Definition:
The irrational (or maybe totally rational?) fear of artificial minds — especially the kind of AI that can think, learn, and maybe one day decide humans are inefficient meatbags.
This isn’t just being scared of robots vacuuming your house. This is existential dread about super-intelligent machines writing poetry, cracking jokes, or plotting to take over the world… while you’re still figuring out how to unmute yourself on Zoom.
Origin:
From the Greek nous (mind), genesis (creation), and phobos (fear). Coined in 2025 to describe the creeping anxiety that your toaster might soon have better ideas than you.
“Ever since ChatGPT started finishing my sentences better than I can, my noogenophobia’s been off the charts.”
“He’s not just scared of Skynet. He’s full-blown noogenophobic.”
“If my AI starts calling me ‘inferior biological unit’ one more time, I’m getting therapy for noogenophobia.”
“He’s not just scared of Skynet. He’s full-blown noogenophobic.”
“If my AI starts calling me ‘inferior biological unit’ one more time, I’m getting therapy for noogenophobia.”
by Jok5r May 15, 2025