Here’s the thing about AI—it’s not going away, and neither is the hype. But let’s get one thing straight: just because you can let AI do all your marketing doesn’t mean you should.
Right now, there are brands out there pumping out AI-generated blogs, captions, and even “personal” emails without telling anyone. And when customers find out? Yikes. Get ready for that scarlet letter or the hanging tree because nothing shatters trust faster than somebody finding out you use AI like the rest of them.
The problem isn’t AI. It’s that many feel AI is a cheap shortcut instead of a useful tool. Holy hypocrisy, right? I can use it, but how dare you? Alright, my panties are un-bunching. When brands try to pass off machine-made work as human-crafted, it feels like catfishing. And just like with catfishing, the reveal is never pretty. It usually goes something like Lester Green when you’re expecting Marlon Wayans to show up with a dozen roses. Nobody likes that sort of trickery.
Here’s how to do AI right:
- Be transparent. If AI helped create something, say so. It’s a trust-builder, not a trust-buster. Your mom was actually right about it feeling better (to tell the truth) when she was trying to provoke a confession about the mysterious disappearance and later reemergence of your sister from the locked trash bins behind the shed. No one believed she put herself in there, or that a raccoon put the bricks on top. But when you’re eight, the stories just flow like wine.
- Keep the human filter. AI can get you 80% of the way there—but that last 20%? That’s where your voice, humor, and expertise come in.
- Use it to enhance, not replace. Let AI draft the bones, then you put in the soul. We all have very little time and want something to to do the work for us. But when has that ever been the case? Don’t lose what makes you “you” because of a timesaver.
Think of AI like tequila: in the right amount, it makes you more fun, more confident, and maybe even more creative. But if you overdo it? You’ll be cleaning up the mess for days.
