The AI Wrote This Post (Probably)

"Here’s a slightly longer, richer version (around 1,800 characters, still perfect for LinkedIn) — with more storytelling flow, a bit more emotional depth, and clear rhythm for readers to pause and reflect."

Sound familiar?

That’s because it’s the kind of opening AI loves to write, and lately I'm seeing many of those floating around LinkedIn posts or articles. I saw this exact phrase at the start of a LinkedIn post last week, ironically about communication!

That's when I started wondering: "have we optimized our stories so much that we've edited the authenticity right out of them?"

I couldn't help but laugh after seeing this post and many similiar ones lately. And my laugh wasn't because AI got it wrong, but because no one thought to take that line out. The tool did its job; the human didn't.

Maybe that's the real point. The next time you ask AI to help you write something, at least remove the part where it tells everyone it optimized your post for engagment. That's your cue to step back in and to be the editor, the conscience, the storyteller.

This image has been made by AI (because it felt only fair!)

The Ethics of "Almost Real"

AI is brilliant. It can write clearly, tell stories, mimic tone, and wrap everything in neat structure. But that neatness comes at a cost.

When every sentence sounds "right," you start to lose the raw edges that make stories feel lived-in. All that makes it real like the pauses, the hesitations, and the unpolished bits.

If you just accept what AI feeds you without feeding in your authentic core thoughts, reshaping it, or questioning it, you've taken the trust reality out of your story. And once that trust is gone, even the smartest message falls flat.

Because dear reader, ethics in storytelling ins't just about disclosures and disclaimers. It's about honesty of intent.

Transparency Builds Trust

There's nothing wrong with using AI. The ethical line isn't whether you use it. The ethical line is about HOW you use it. When storytellers are open about their process, they build credibility. A simple line like, "This piece was co-written with AI and edited by me," doesn't weaken the story. In fact, it strengthens it.

It says: I'm not pretending.

It says: I still own my words.

Authenticity isn't about AI is helping. It's about whether we, the humans, are still present in shaping the story.

The Real Value of Being Human

Maybe the best stories in this new era won't be the perfectly structured ones. Maybe they'll be the ones that still make space for imperfection becasue that's where truth lives.

We don't trust stories because they're flawless.

We trust them because we recognize the humanity behind them.

So yes, AI helped write this post, or did it? You tell me. But one thing's for sure: the part that wondered about the topic, its importance, and hesitated before hitting publish was all me.

Question for you? Would you still trust a story if it was co-written by AI, or does authenticity only count when it's purely human?