By Marty Greenaway, Search Consultant
AI is advancing at a pace that is hard to comprehend. It is an incredible tool and, when used well, it should make us better.
But as it becomes more powerful, the risk is not that it replaces us. The risk is that we start to sound like it.
I use AI daily for tasks. It has become a great tool for editing notes, creating frameworks, preparing for meetings, and conducting research.
In many ways, AI is better, faster, and frankly smarter than I am at these tasks.
However, when it comes to meaningful communication, it lacks authenticity, personality, and emotional intelligence.
When I first began using AI tools, I used them for many of my communications without much second thought. At first, I believed the emails made me sound more professional and smarter.
Over time, I began to feel it was too good to be true. The perfectly structured paragraphs and overly descriptive language made it seem artificial.
It did not sound like something any human would write, let alone me. It sounded optimized, not personal.
AI writing relies on statistical patterns and probabilities, and no human communicates that way.
We communicate through lived experience, emotion, instinct, and nuance. Connection often comes from imperfection. We do not trust perfection. We trust perspective.
Being personable and connecting with other humans are among the most important things I do in my work.
I now spend significant time ensuring that whenever I use an AI tool, it is sent to another human and that it sounds authentic and like me.
As a recruiter, I see hundreds of applications a week, and it’s not hard to tell who used AI to tailor resumes and cover letters without any personalization.
AI cannot display emotional intelligence in its writing. What I often see is information transmission intertwined with the job description.
It becomes very clear what the candidate has done. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s becoming more noticeable than ever.
The applications read well, but they feel interchangeable. As a candidate, you simply do not stand out. Let AI help you organize the message.
The structure can be assisted. The substance cannot.
But make sure the meaning is yours. Emotional intelligence, personal insight, and authenticity are what truly set you apart.
The people who pause to add their voice and perspective will be the ones who build trust.
Trust, in any profession or relationship, is still built person to person, not prompt to prompt. Technology can accelerate connection, but it can’t replace it.
Bring your voice, trust your perspective, and let your humanity shine; that’s the difference that lasts.