Language technologies such as large language models are increasingly present in our lives. In this talk, I will share some of my thinking that is helping me navigate this moment. I will start by discussing work from fields that have engaged deeply with language and society—e.g., sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology, and education—illustrating how their insights are vital for anticipating and understanding language technologies’ impacts. I will then offer some perspectives on the practical challenges of grappling with language technologies in their contexts of use.