Making a stand
It was time we took our stance on AI. How to use this responsibly and not to use this to cut corners or to eradicate our own voice.
With the new standards for B Corp on the horizon, we decided to be clear about how we use AI. What to use it for and what not to use it for.
I started looking at LinkedIn posts, actually reading them, and websites too. Something started to become apparent. Too much was written in the same tone of voice, and a tone of voice that didn’t sound natural. A tinge of over enthusiastic American values. The same words and writing style kept on being used. Too many marketers seem to be charging their clients to get AI to write posts or their websites for them. Or maybe it was even the clients themselves.
Are we losing the battle?
Where were the fresh ideas? Where was the natural rhythm of writing? We seem to be losing here. I mean, it is still there, and for me, those posts or websites stand out, they engage me. It is for this reason that we made a clear decision to hone our own writing skills and develop a policy that meant we could serve our clients better.
At Harrison Brands, we will never use AI to write our copy for clients for social media posts or websites. If we can’t write it, then we shouldn’t be working for our clients. The art of writing is under threat from AI. Our own human tone of voice counts for a lot more. We should be influenced by the way we talk, the books we read and not advertising, not mundane reports, and not the bland and boring style that is permeating our society.
We can and do use AI for writing our own policies, but we add a disclaimer at the end of each one. This is because we don’t talk like lawyers or policy writers. And we also use Claude for idea generation. It’s good to have a conversation about something with it.
Don’t let AI generate ideas for you
You can do much better, but it’s good to talk.
Overall, AI like so many things in life, can be beneficial, but overuse and in the wrong hands, it can be highly destructive. Don’t let it erode the art of writing, and the one thing we will always be better at; idea generation and emotive responses.
Is AI able to answer everything? With the greatest art, the best cultural movements, the most wonderful music, and the way we love, humanity will always triumph.
AI can never match that.
