Is this real? I find myself asking that question more and more.
It started when I shared a video with my sons. They laughed at me, the same way I used to laugh at my parents when they fumbled with technology. The video was completely fake. I didn’t know. Worse, I couldn’t read the signs.
Now I ask it constantly about emails, texts, blogs, even books. Is this real? Or did someone just let AI do their job?
Here’s the truth: I think we all use a little AI. It’s like going to the med spa. Too much Botox and it’s obvious, and a little painful to look at. A light touch? No one notices, and the effect is nice.
I use AI in a lot of my work. The ideas, the content, the origin are mine. AI smooths out the wrinkles.
But I’m now writing my fourth book (!!), and I’ve rediscovered a lesson I already knew: writing is hard. For this project, I’m on an AI-free diet. It has to come from me.
That got me thinking about what else has to come directly from me. Where can’t I cheat? Where do I draw the line?
Here’s what AI can’t replace:
- Holding a tough conversation
- Sincerely congratulating someone on a job well done
- Caring about the people you work with and around
- Building new relationships
- Making any “ask”
Also, AI can help you reflect on your leadership style. It can’t help you show up as you.
So here’s the guidance I’m giving myself, and you … and please pass along some guidance to me. 😊
Set your boundaries before you need them. Name the work that must be 100% yours, and protect it.
Use the “would it matter?” test. If the person on the other end learned AI wrote it, would it change how they felt? If so, write it yourself.
Keep the origin human. Let AI polish your thinking, not replace it. Start with your idea, your story, your voice.
Go analog when it counts. A phone call, a handwritten note, a face-to-face conversation. These are becoming rare, and that makes them more powerful.
Be honest about the assist. If AI helped, it’s okay to say so. Credibility comes from honesty, not perfection.
When more and more of what we see might be fake, being real becomes a competitive advantage. People can feel the difference.
So use the light touch. But when it counts, show up as you.
PS For the record: that Botox comparison was all mine. No AI needed. Ca-Ching.
