Page 15 - San Diego Woman Anna Adams

AI Can Write the Script,

But It Can’t Tell Your Story:

Why the Future of Social Media Still Belongs to Humans

By Rachel Strella and Laney Goff

Artificial intelligence is changing the way • Forgetting that storytelling is about peo- matically understand humor, wit, or personal-
businesses approach content creation. It’s ple, not perfection – The best stories come ity—it has to be guided. Businesses that take
writing emails, drafting social media posts, from real, raw human moments, not algo- the time to shape AI-generated content into
and even mimicking human empathy. AI-gen- rithmic predictions. something aligned with their brand will see
erated responses are now being rated as more • Not aligning AI-generated content with far better results than those who expect AI to
empathetic than those from trained profes- brand voice – If your audience reads it and “just figure it out.”
sionals. But does that mean brands should doesn’t recognize your tone, you’ve lost By investing time into refining AI respons-
rely on AI to tell their story? them. es, companies can use it as a powerful content
The short answer: No. AI is an incredible • Using AI to replace creativity instead of en- assistant without losing their unique voice.
tool, but it lacks something essential—lived hancing it – AI should assist with ideas, not
experiences. dictate the message. The AI & Human Partnership as the
One of the most overlooked aspects of Future
The Power of Human Storytelling in AI-driven content creation is that AI is only as As AI-generated content floods the internet,
Marketing good as the input it receives. Many marketers audiences will crave authentic connections
Great storytelling isn’t just about well-struc- assume AI will magically produce engaging more than ever. The brands that win won’t
tured sentences; it’s about emotion, connec- content, but the reality is that vague prompts be the ones automating the most content—
tion, and shared experiences. lead to generic, uninspired results. they’ll be the ones making people feel some-
Think about the most powerful messages Instead, businesses should treat AI like a thing.
you’ve seen on social media. They weren’t just creative assistant, not a replacement for hu- Businesses have two choices: adapt and
grammatically correct—they made you feel man input. The more context you provide— learn how to integrate AI effectively or get left
something. They told a story that resonated your brand’s mission, voice, audience, and behind. AI can enhance efficiency, but it can’t
because it came from a real, lived moment. goals—the better the output. AI is a mirror; it replace the emotional intelligence, strategic
AI, for all its sophistication, doesn’t have reflects the quality of input you give it. thinking, and lived experience that make mar-
personal experiences. It doesn’t know what keting truly impactful.
it’s like to struggle, to doubt, or to push How to Use AI as a Tool—Not a AI can help write the script, but only you
through adversity. It doesn’t understand hu- Replacement can bring the story to life. In the future of so-
mor, sarcasm, or the cultural nuances that AI is not the enemy of storytelling, but it cial media, it’s not AI versus humans—it’s AI
shape human connection. should never be the storyteller. The brands and humans. And the brands that embrace
With more companies relying on automa- that will thrive in an AI-driven world are those both will thrive.
tion, authenticity is a brand’s greatest asset. that use AI strategically while keeping human Rachel Strella, Founder and CEO of Strel-
But that’s where many businesses go wrong la Social Media, celebrates 15 years of suc-
with AI—they assume it can replace human connection at the forefront. cess alongside her expert team, offering un-
storytelling rather than enhance it. Here’s how brands can strike the right bal- matched expertise in the ever-evolving digital
ance: landscape. Strella Social Media has been fea-
The Biggest Mistake Businesses Make • Use AI to generate ideas. Stuck on how to tured in outlets such as Forbes, Social Media
frame a message? Let AI suggest angles,
with AI in Content Creation but don’t copy-paste. Today, Built In, and Lioness Magazine.
At Strella Social Media, we’ve seen firsthand • Let AI polish, but not create. Draft your Laney Goff, EVP and TikTok Specialist, is
how businesses approach AI in their market- message from the heart, then use AI to re- a renowned content creator and influencer
ing. Many of our clients are still hesitant to fine grammar and structure. with a proven track record of building engag-
use it fully, and those who do tend to use it • Keep storytelling human. AI can’t replicate ing strategies for clients. Her work has been
for data analysis and research rather than con- personal anecdotes, humor, or the nuance highlighted in the PRSA Blog, Scary Mommy
tent creation. of lived experiences—lean into those Blog, and INJOY Success Podcast. Together,
The reason? AI-generated content often strengths. Rachel and Laney lead Strella Social Media in
lacks the natural, engaging tone that social • Read before you post. If the content delivering innovative solutions and action-
media demands. doesn’t sound like your brand, rewrite it. able strategies for brands navigating complex
Some of the most common mistakes AI should complement, not replace, your social media challenges.
brands make include: voice.
• Over-relying on AI without human input – Another key takeaway from our work Find out more on their media page:
AI-generated posts often feel robotic and with AI is that training AI to match your brand https://strellasocialmedia.com/media-inquiries/
impersonal. voice is an ongoing process. AI doesn’t auto-
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