How to Tell If Content Was Written by AI and How to Humanize It
AI Content Can Backfire
AI is transforming content creation and saving so much time. It drafts blogs, generates ideas, and can even come up with full campaigns. But using AI alone doesn’t make content effective; in fact it can backfire big time when your audience inevitably sniffs a whiff of the telltale signs.
To get results from content, you need a very strong content strategy, and to be crystal clear on your audience, your goals, and what defines success.
Having clear goals helps you create precise prompts, as well as know exactly how to edit the draft content AI produces.
TellTale Signs of AI Content:
Some patterns can reveal content that was likely AI-generated. Look for:
Three in a Row
Repeated sets of three points or examples is a major giveaway of AI-produced content.
“It’s Not Just AI-It’s the Future!”
Phrases that follow a rigid “it’s not this, it’s this” structure are my #1 pet peeve and a very clear indicator of AI-produced content.
The Maligned Em-Dash
Excessive use of hyphens and em-dashes is the one sign we are all onto at this point. (Honestly, I don’t use them anymore in any circumstance).
Too. Many. Stops.
Stilted phrasing or overly formal sentence rhythm is something AI loves writing. Don’t fall for it.
Esoteric Whimsy.
Highly poetic or abstract language that doesn’t clearly communicate ideas is another favorite of AI especially if you prompt it to be less rigid. It can’t get it right with the balance.
HUMAN TOUCH
AI Needs Human Guidance to Make Content Resonate.
Start with a Clear Strategy
Before using AI, define what success looks like. Are you aiming for engagement, leads, awareness, or thought leadership? Strategy shapes your prompts, guides the editing process, and ensures your content actually achieves your objectives.
Know Your Audience
AI can replicate tone, but it doesn’t understand human nuance. Define who you are speaking to and what matters to them. Audience insight ensures AI-generated content speaks to real people and solves real problems. Remember too, that speaking to everyone, as Seth Godin says, means you are speaking to no one.
Use Precise Prompts
The clearer your instructions, the better the output. Be sure to define context, tone, and intent and give examples of other brands you may like. Think of AI prompts as a roadmap: the more detail you provide, the more useful the AI’s output will be.
Treat AI as a Partner
Let AI draft, brainstorm, and structure ideas. Then refine and edit the content yourself. Your perspective, voice, and strategic insight turn generic output into content that actually drives results. Remember: YOU are the human and only you can layer in emotional tone and resonance.
Measure, Test But Also Do a Gut Check
Test, analyze, and test again. AI can speed up creation, but your evaluation determines what resonates and what delivers real impact. On a side note, I actually think most marketers over test and the beauty of content is how it feels when you read it, something that is difficult to measure directly (but often leads to more engagement).
