Your AI Sounds Like A Robot. Why And HOW To Change That!

Okay, so AI is kinda blowing up right now, right? Everyone’s using it for everything. And content creation is no exception. You’ve probably seen the ads: “Write a blog post in 30 seconds!” or “Generate killer marketing copy with one click!” Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?

Well, hold on a sec. Before you let AI take over your entire content strategy, let’s talk about something important: the human touch.

AI: Your Helpful Sidekick, Not the Superhero

Think of AI like a super-powered calculator. It can crunch numbers faster than you ever could, but it doesn’t understand why those numbers matter. It’s a tool, and like any tool, it’s only as good as the person using it.

The biggest mistake people make with AI content is treating it like a content vending machine: insert prompt, receive finished product. Boom, done! But here’s the thing: AI, at least right now, writes like a robot. It can string words together grammatically, but it often lacks the nuance, emotion, and genuine understanding that makes content truly resonate with people. And I think we can all sniff out AI-written content from a mile away, you know? It’s obvious when someone didn’t write what they’re saying.

Why AI Still Sounds… Off

Have you ever read something written by AI and thought, “Wow, that’s…generic?” Or maybe, “That’s technically correct, but it feels kinda empty?” That’s the robot problem. AI pulls information from the internet, remixes it, and spits it back out. It doesn’t have original thoughts, personal experiences, or a sense of humor. It doesn’t know what it’s actually talking about.

Here’s what AI struggles with:

• Authenticity: AI can’t replicate the unique voice and perspective that comes from being a real person with real experiences. It can’t tell a story that’s uniquely yours.
• Emotion: AI can identify and use emotional language, but it doesn’t feel anything. It can’t convey genuine empathy, passion, or excitement.

Because of these limitations, AI-generated content often comes across as bland, impersonal, and, well, robotic. It might be technically accurate, but it won’t grab your attention or make you feel anything. And in today’s world, where everyone is fighting for attention online, that’s a huge problem.

Adding Humanity to AI Content

How do you fix the robot problem? By adding the human touch! This means using AI as a tool to enhance your content, not replace you. Here’s how:

1. Brainstorming and Idea Generation:

Stuck in a creative rut? AI can be a fantastic brainstorming partner. Tools like HyperWrite can generate topic ideas, outlines, and even different angles for your content.

• How to use it: Instead of asking AI to write an entire blog post, ask it to generate 10 different titles for a blog post about, for instance, “sustainable living.” Then, pick the title that resonates most with you and use it as a starting point. Or, ask it to create an outline, and then rewrite each section in your own voice.

2. Research and Information Gathering:

AI can quickly gather information from multiple sources, saving you hours or even days of research time. Tools like search engines (obviously) and AI-powered research assistants can help you find relevant data, statistics, and examples to support your content.

• How to use it: Let’s say you’re writing about the benefits of meditation. Use AI to find studies and articles that support your claims. But don’t just copy and paste the information! Read the sources, understand the findings, and then explain them in your own words. Add your own insights and interpretations.

3. Editing and Proofreading:

AI-powered grammar and spell checkers can help you polish your writing and catch errors you might have missed. Tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid can identify grammar mistakes, typos, and even suggest improvements to your writing style.

• How to use it: Write your content first, then run it through a grammar checker. But don’t blindly accept every suggestion! Sometimes, grammar rules can be broken for stylistic effect. Trust your own judgment and make sure the edits actually improve your writing. For instance, I often find myself starting sentences with “and” for extra emphasis on what I am trying to say.

4. Overcoming Writer’s Block

Every writer gets it. Sitting, staring at a blank screen, hoping the words will just magically appear. AI can help you get over this hurdle and provide a starting point when you cannot find it.

• How to use it: If you are trying to write a story, for example, try using AI to create the first paragraph, and then continue the story yourself. This will help you get past the blank page and get the ball rolling, and will allow you to create the story in your own authentic voice. And you can always get back to the first paragraph and change it if you do not like it. (See that I started the sentence with And? Grammarly would tell me to fix that.)

The Human Touch Checklist:

No matter how you use AI in your content creation process, always make sure to:

• Add your own voice: Rewrite AI-generated text in your own style. Use your own vocabulary, sentence structure, and tone.
• Share your experiences: Include personal anecdotes, examples, and insights to make your content relatable and engaging.
• Show your personality: Don’t be afraid to be yourself! Let your humor, passion, and quirks shine through.
• Fact-check everything: AI can make mistakes, so always verify the information it provides. This is especially important when studies are quoted or analyzed.
• Target a specific audience: Understand who you are writing to, and make sure you are engaging them in a way that caters to them.

Examples

Let’s look at a few examples of how to use AI to assist with content creation, rather than letting it take over:

Example 1: Writing a Product Description

• AI’s Role: Generate a basic product description based on the product’s features and benefits.
• Human Touch: Rewrite the description to highlight the product’s unique selling points and appeal to your target audience. Add a personal story about how the product has helped you or others.

Example 2: Creating a Social Media Post

• AI’s Role: Generate a few different versions of a social media post to promote your latest blog post.
• Human Touch: Choose the version that best aligns with your brand voice and add a compelling call to action. Include a relevant image or video to grab attention.

Example 3: Writing an Email Newsletter

• AI’s Role: Draft a basic email newsletter to announce a new product or service.
• Human Touch: Personalize the email with the recipient’s name and add a friendly, conversational tone. Include a special offer or discount to incentivize them to take action.

The Future of Content is Humans 🤝 AI

AI is not going to replace human content creators anytime soon. But it is changing the way we create content. By embracing AI as a tool and focusing on adding the human touch, you can create content that is both informative and engaging, authentic and original. The sooner you embrace the reality, the better!

So, go ahead and experiment with AI. But remember, the best content is always created by humans, for humans. Don’t let the robots take over! Your audience will thank you for it.