AI vs. Humanity: Why Being Human in Your Communications Beats Being Efficient

By Lauren Riefflin , Sr. Director of Communications and Storytelling

In an era where AI-generated communications flood our inboxes and timelines, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters: authentic human connection. As someone who's spent over a decade navigating the wild west of communications and thought leadership, I've seen firsthand the pitfalls of relying too heavily on automation (hello stale tone and unnecessary jargon) and the importance of just keeping it real.

Sure, AI can churn out a keynote speech, quote, or social copy faster than you can say "artificial intelligence," but let's not forget—it's still a robot. And while efficiency is key, it should never come at the expense of genuine communication and meaningful engagement. So, how can leaders, brands and their communication teams strike the right balance between leveraging AI tools and staying authentically human? Here are a few things to think about:

Personality Reigns Supreme

AI may be great at spitting out cookie-cutter messages, but it lacks the creativity and emotion that make things truly resonate. Don't be afraid to inject some personality into your communications. Whether it's through humor, storytelling, or quirky anecdotes, let your unique personality (and/or your brand’s) shine through. This is true for both internal/employee and external communications. Both employees and customers want to connect with real people. Bland and robotic messaging is a surefire way to get lost in the digital noise.?

Don't Let AI Write Your Story—Leverage Technology, But Keep It Human

AI can be a powerful ally in streamlining your communications processes, but don't let it overshadow the human touch. Instead, use AI tools to gather insights, optimize your content, and even refine/improve your delivery, but don't let the robots steal your thunder. Keep it human, keep it real. Here are a couple of AI-tools I've used or am intrigued by that could be worth exploring:?

• Grammarly: This one you might be familiar with. Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps improve the clarity, correctness, and effectiveness of written communication. It provides real-time feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style, allowing users to refine their messaging while ensuring it remains human-readable.
• Poised: Poised is the AI-powered communication coach that helps you speak with confidence and clarity. Private and secure, an essential tool for digital-first workplaces.
• Persado: Persado is an AI platform that leverages natural language processing to generate compelling marketing copy. By analyzing data on customer preferences and language patterns, Persado helps brands craft messages that resonate with their target audience while maintaining an authentic tone and voice.

Transparency & Imperfection are the New Black (especially in a crisis)

In a world where trust can feel like a scarce commodity, transparency is key. To some extent, many consumers demand it these days. It can be daunting to be transparent but it all starts with accepting a simple truth — humans aren't perfect, and neither are our communications. Instead of striving for robotic perfection, embrace the messy, imperfect nature of human interaction. Embrace showing some vulnerability, and admit when you don't have all the answers. Make sure to keep this in mind especially if/when you’re leveraging AI to draft messaging. Don’t try to pass AI off as your real voice. It just won’t work. All of this is particularly true when it comes to crisis communications. It's crucial to remember that crisis communication ultimately requires a human touch — empathy, transparency, and authenticity are non-negotiable when addressing sensitive issues.?

Make Sure it’s Not Just Lip Service

Whether it’s your personal brand or the company’s, authenticity isn't a static state — it's an ongoing journey that requires constant nurturing and evaluation. And while it can feel like an abstract concept, authenticity is measurable. Use both qualitative and quantitative tools to track authenticity and make ongoing improvements. Dive into metrics like awareness, recognition, and recall through surveys, reviews, and social media insights (AI tools can come in handy here to help analyze and streamline insights). But don't sleep on the qualitative — ask for audience feedback after a keynote, listen to the stories behind the data, understand how people feel, and track indicators like loyalty, advocacy, satisfaction, and trust. Ultimately, the true competition in authenticity lies within your brand's ability to stay genuine and true to its values, so benchmark against your own potential for authenticity rather than just comparing to competitors.

So, as you navigate building your personal or brand’s narrative amidst the maze of AI-driven communications, remember this golden rule: stay human. Use AI tools as an anecdote to writer’s block, to kick start your thought process, or brainstorm variations of how to say something. But then, make it your own. That’s how I used it to write this very article :)?

Embrace AI but don’t forget about the inherent humanity in your interactions, imperfections and all, and keep the conversation authentic. That’s how messages will transcend algorithms and actually help leaders and brands forge genuine, lasting connections.

After all, isn't that what communication is all about?