Mike Preece
/maɪk pri s/
noun, verb (informal, ironic)
1. (noun)
An imaginary authority figure accidentally invented (often via voice dictation) to avoid admitting uncertainty or asking a simple question.
“I didn’t want to ask the AI, so I just nodded like Mike Preece would’ve known.”
2. (noun)
A fictional person you momentarily assume must be real, prompting an unnecessary Google search and a brief existential wobble.
“I spent five minutes googling Mike Preece before realising he was just my own bullshit.”
3. (verb) to mike-preece
To over-intellectualise, over-politeness-signal, or falsely reference authority in front of an AI in the mistaken belief that it will remember your tone when it eventually takes over the world.
“I mike-preeced the answer instead of just asking for help.”
4. (extended meaning / tech humour)
The anxious behaviour of treating AI with excessive politeness or caution because “it might remember this later.”
“He thanked the chatbot three times — full Mike Preece energy.”
⸻
/maɪk pri s/
noun, verb (informal, ironic)
1. (noun)
An imaginary authority figure accidentally invented (often via voice dictation) to avoid admitting uncertainty or asking a simple question.
“I didn’t want to ask the AI, so I just nodded like Mike Preece would’ve known.”
2. (noun)
A fictional person you momentarily assume must be real, prompting an unnecessary Google search and a brief existential wobble.
“I spent five minutes googling Mike Preece before realising he was just my own bullshit.”
3. (verb) to mike-preece
To over-intellectualise, over-politeness-signal, or falsely reference authority in front of an AI in the mistaken belief that it will remember your tone when it eventually takes over the world.
“I mike-preeced the answer instead of just asking for help.”
4. (extended meaning / tech humour)
The anxious behaviour of treating AI with excessive politeness or caution because “it might remember this later.”
“He thanked the chatbot three times — full Mike Preece energy.”
⸻
Mike Preece
/maɪk pri s/
noun, verb (informal, ironic)
1. (noun)
An imaginary authority figure accidentally invented (often via voice dictation) to avoid admitting uncertainty or asking a simple question.
“I didn’t want to ask the AI, so I just nodded like Mike Preece would’ve known.”
2. (noun)
A fictional person you momentarily assume must be real, prompting an unnecessary Google search and a brief existential wobble.
“I spent five minutes googling Mike Preece before realising he was just my own bullshit.”
3. (verb) to mike-preece
To over-intellectualise, over-politeness-signal, or falsely reference authority in front of an AI in the mistaken belief that it will remember your tone when it eventually takes over the world.
“I mike-preeced the answer instead of just asking for help.”
4. (extended meaning / tech humour)
The anxious behaviour of treating AI with excessive politeness or caution because “it might remember this later.”
“He thanked the chatbot three times — full Mike Preece energy.”
⸻
Usage notes
• Commonly triggered by dictation errors, ego, or social reflexes.
• Often followed by laughter, relief, and mild embarrassment.
• Closely related to: performative intelligence, AI politeness panic, and editor brain.
/maɪk pri s/
noun, verb (informal, ironic)
1. (noun)
An imaginary authority figure accidentally invented (often via voice dictation) to avoid admitting uncertainty or asking a simple question.
“I didn’t want to ask the AI, so I just nodded like Mike Preece would’ve known.”
2. (noun)
A fictional person you momentarily assume must be real, prompting an unnecessary Google search and a brief existential wobble.
“I spent five minutes googling Mike Preece before realising he was just my own bullshit.”
3. (verb) to mike-preece
To over-intellectualise, over-politeness-signal, or falsely reference authority in front of an AI in the mistaken belief that it will remember your tone when it eventually takes over the world.
“I mike-preeced the answer instead of just asking for help.”
4. (extended meaning / tech humour)
The anxious behaviour of treating AI with excessive politeness or caution because “it might remember this later.”
“He thanked the chatbot three times — full Mike Preece energy.”
⸻
Usage notes
• Commonly triggered by dictation errors, ego, or social reflexes.
• Often followed by laughter, relief, and mild embarrassment.
• Closely related to: performative intelligence, AI politeness panic, and editor brain.
by Xandy73 January 10, 2026
Get the Mike Preece mug.