Key Takeaways
- AI-generated content often reveals itself through repetitive phrasing, unusual punctuation, a mismatched tone, or a lack of personal stories and genuine insight.
- While AI can help create polished content, it frequently lacks the unique voice and nuanced experiences that make communication authentic.
- To ensure your content sounds like you, use AI as a starting point or for refinement, but always lead with your own ideas, add personal perspectives, and meticulously fact-check.
- Reading your content aloud is a great way to catch awkward phrasing and ensure it truly reflects your natural speaking style.
In today’s world of AI, creating polished content is easier than ever. Tools like ChatGPT promise to save time and enhance online presences, but as Alyssa Stalker points out in an article for Inman News, this convenience can lead to a sea of sameness.
Stalker has observed that while AI-generated text can be a useful starting point, it often misses something vital: your authentic voice and personal experiences. This is particularly noticeable when the human touch is expected, like in direct communication with clients.
So, how can you tell if content was written by AI? Stalker highlights several common indicators. Language that feels scripted or uses recurring, generic phrases rather than natural conversation is a big clue. Think of phrases that appear repeatedly across different texts, lacking genuine personal inflection.
Odd punctuation choices can also be a sign. If writing suddenly features an abundance of em dashes or semicolons that don’t match your usual style, AI might be the culprit. Reading the text aloud can help identify if the punctuation feels forced.
Another major giveaway is a tone that doesn’t align with how you or the supposed author typically speaks. AI can struggle with nuance, sounding overly formal or too casual in a way that feels inauthentic. Your audience expects to hear *your* voice, reflecting your personality and trustworthiness.
AI is adept at gathering data, but it often presents facts without meaningful context or perspective. If you encounter content filled with statistics but no real insight into what those numbers mean for the reader, it might be AI-generated. Stalker emphasizes the importance of connecting data to real-world impact.
The absence of personal stories or lived experiences is perhaps the most significant identifier. AI can’t replicate the unique insights gained from real-world interactions. Content lacking these personal touches can feel hollow, even if technically accurate.
Finally, if an article or post feels like something you’ve read many times before, AI could be behind it. Since these tools learn from existing content, they excel at reproducing common themes but often fall short on originality.
The solution isn’t to avoid AI altogether. Stalker suggests using these tools strategically. Start by outlining your message in your own voice. Then, you can use AI to help refine your draft, check grammar, or brainstorm ideas.
To make AI outputs sound more like you, consider providing it with examples of your previous writing. Always double-check any facts or figures AI provides, as errors can occur. Most importantly, infuse your content with your unique perspective and insights.
Ultimately, reading your work aloud is a simple yet effective test. If it doesn’t sound like something you’d say, revise it until it does. In a landscape increasingly populated by AI-generated material, your genuine voice and expertise are more valuable than ever.
