You know what we’re talking about. It’s all those em-dashes. It’s all those emojis. It’s that too-polished language you’ve never seen from your colleague. 

AI is everywhere. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. But, there does seem to be some breadcrumbs left along the way to identify it. In this great essay by Sam Kiman, he outlines the tell-tale signs. 

It’s worth a read to remind yourself that your content / output should start and end with YOU. Several times this month I received back content from ChatGPT that was straight up wrong (not all of it but that 5% is not good). So, make sure you understand where AI can fall short and where you need to be the ultimate editor before blindly publishing and outsourcing your credibility. 

Tell-Tale Signs

Some of the tell-tale signs as defined by Sam:

• Uniform Sentence Structures: AI-generated text often exhibits repetitive phrasing and consistent sentence lengths, lacking the natural variability found in human writing. 
• Overuse of Transition Words: Phrases like “furthermore,” “moreover,” and “in addition” are frequently employed by AI to maintain flow, sometimes resulting in unnatural transitions. 
• Generic Openings: AI tends to start articles with broad, clichéd phrases such as “In today’s fast-paced world,” which can signal a lack of genuine human insight.
• Balanced Yet Vague Arguments: AI often presents both sides of an argument without taking a definitive stance, leading to content that feels non-committal and lacks depth.
• Excessive Politeness and Formality: AI-generated content may come across as overly polite or formal, using phrases like “It is important to note that,” which can feel robotic. 
• Predictable Vocabulary: The use of certain “fancy” words or phrases, such as “delve,” “explore,” or “unpack,” can be indicative of AI authorship.

Don’t Outsource Your Reputation

Ultimately, it’s not about avoiding AI; rather, it’s just learning how to use it in a responsible way. It means checking the work. While AI can be a helpful partner, it cannot yet be the driver. Don’t outsource your credibility to an unreliable partner but think about them as a helpful intern.