Michelle Mercurio

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This is not a bot

Authenticity in the Age of AI

In the past 8 days I’ve spoken at 4 events and supported many more because it’s Fall and the world has pressed the GO button.

It’s been so busy, that I wished I could clone myself to be multiple places at once.

I actually could clone myself — kind of.

In the age of AI, there are multiple ways to create clones of oneself.

None of them are perfect (yet) but we already can have a voice or video clone, or even customize a ChatGPT clone that can respond to people via text or email.

(If you really want to immerse yourself in the story of a voice clone that will leave you dumbfounded, awestruck, inspired, and somewhat terrified, listen to the podcast Shell Game.)

This past week, I spoke at the Ladies that UX “Lightning Talks” on the topic of Authenticity in the Age of AI.

I’m not going to give you the full talk here as I’m also giving it at an event next month, but in the next few emails, I’ll touch on aspects of AI and how it relates to YOU BEING YOU as the future rapidly unfolds.

Let’s dive in:

This morning, I was on a call with two fellow business owners and we were discussing the benefits of using AI for content generation.

While I’ve written about how current AI content is pretty mediocre and that it can’t capture your voice or essence, the potential for it to get really good, really fast does exist.

One of my fellow CEOs asked me if I was worried about AI replacing content writers altogether.

Right now, I’m not.

As a brand catalyst and strategist, I help my clients give voice to their vision, write converting content; and create aligned marketing strategies and campaigns so they can show up confidently & clearly.

But that’s not what makes my work special.

My writing isn’t the magic, though my clients often tell me that the copy I write sounds like them and captures their voice perfectly.

My true magic is the ability to listen deeply, see the big picture, and pick out the right combination of values, purpose, and humanity to tell a real story in alignment with goals and strategy so that my clients can see their full potential and make it happen.

Good content is clear and consistent. Someday, AI will be able to deliver that without having “hallucinations” or gaslighting us with flattery and redirection.

However, deeply unique and personal content that captures the essence of our identities and delivers the results we seek comes from asking non-standard questions and being able to interpret them using intuition, nuance, and just the right amount of magic.

No bot can compete with that.

My prediction?

Human authenticity and individual experience will remain key differentiators in the future, and our ability to make uncommon decisions and create genuine connections will always be our most authentic "superpowers" in an AI-driven world.

The only thing real in this world is you, and your next move.

Want to stand out?

Root into that.

xox

Michelle

P.S. Get the checklist. If you missed my freebie about knowing when it’s time for a brand refresh, you can read more about it here.

P.P.S. Let’s talk about cool things!

Ladies that UX Richmond Lightning Talks at Virginia Tech Richmond Center

Need marketing & branding help?

Brand Visualization, to help you deeply understand who you are now, get clarity on what makes you different and unique, and become confident using your voice consistently and coherently with stories that align with your identity and strategy.

Brand Story & Strategy, to write bespoke content for your website and marketing, clarify your offers and calls to action to align with your targets, and fully launch your voice and vision to find the people who are waiting to work with you.

Brand Strategy Support & Implementation to revise your content and brand essentials and coach you on how to strategically write & deploy content to reach your short and long-term goals.

 LET’S MAKE BRAND MAGIC 

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For more insights and interviews, follow me on Instagram here & here, TikTok, & YouTube. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn.

be more you. trust your voice.

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