Why Does AI Writing Sound... Like That Intern Nobody Wants to Mentor?

Update: 2025-06-25

Description

Hey Creative Pros!

So I was hunting for new podcasts the other day (as one does when you have a podcast addiction), and I found this personal development show with like 200 episodes and tons of reviews. But then I read the description and... oof. It was SO obviously AI-written. Like painfully obvious. "Unlock your true potential," "elevate your business game," "unleash your superpowers" - you know, all those phrases that scream "I wrote this in 2023 and never looked back!"

The weird thing? I actually listened to the host and they're super personable and authentic! But their description made them sound like a robot. It got me thinking - how do we make sure our own content doesn't end up in that same hollow, AI-generated trap?

What You'll Learn

Why AI writing isn't "wrong" - just overused - This stuff comes from legitimate professional writing! But when everyone suddenly sounds the same... yikes

Spot the AI lingo - Thanks to Matthew Hitcham's research (shoutout to his ChatGPT Black Magic course that Facebook-stalked me into buying)

Write like you actually talk - Not dumbed down, just... human? There's a difference

Add your messy human experiences - The cat-knocking-over-water moments that make content real

Know when to sound professional vs. conversational - Because your yoga studio newsletter doesn't need to sound like a medical journal

The Baader-Meinhof effect in action - Once you see these patterns, you'll notice them EVERYWHERE (sorry in advance)

Embrace strategic imperfection - Sometimes the tangents and "oops" moments are what make it memorable

Episode Timestamps

00:00:00 - Podcast description that inspired this episode

00:04:05 - Why AI writing isn't inherently bad (it's just everywhere)

00:06:49 - What is "AI speak" and why it's a problem

00:11:48 - Matthew's framework for spotting AI patterns

00:17:22 - The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon

00:18:14 - Technique 1: Write conversationally

00:20:52 - Technique 2: Add personal experiences (the messy ones!)

00:23:54 - Technique 3: Embrace imperfection

00:27:52 - When to use AI vs. your human brain

00:30:28 - 5-step editing process for humanizing AI content

Tools & Resources I Actually Use

For Content Creation:

ChatGPT (for outlines when my brain is stuck)

Claude (my go-to for everything writing-related)

Voice memos (to capture how I actually talk)

The Course That Stalked Me:

Matthew Hitcham's ChatGPT Black Magic ($19 when I got it, totally worth it)

Tons of prompt templates in there (I've only used 3 so far, oops)

The Techniques That Work:

Read everything aloud

Add personal disasters

Embrace the tangents

Mix formal and casual based on context

Try These This Week

Audit your recent content - Count how many AI patterns you find

Read everything aloud - This catches unnatural phrasing better than anything else

Add one messy human moment - Share a specific example, even if it's embarrassing (especially if it's embarrassing)

Test the hybrid approach - Use AI for structure, then rewrite it like you're explaining to a friend

Test the decision framework - Consciously decide: high stakes or low? Emotional or technical? Match your approach accordingly

Important Stuff

Look, if you're a trained writer who naturally writes formally, don't feel like you need to sound like a TikTok influencer just to avoid the AI trap. The goal is authenticity, not forced casualness. Context matters!

These tips are especially helpful for us creatives who aren't writers first - designers, photographers, video editors - who need to create content but don't have formal writing training. AI tools can be lifesavers for us, just remember to make the output sound like YOU.

Also, there's no "right" way to write. It's like cooking - there are professional chefs and then there's the rest of us who just need to feed people. And cats. Same with writing!

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