AI-First: What is “Good Enough?”
Everyone’s using AI to elevate efficiency, help them brainstorm, conduct research and present as a polished, skilled writer. Even my 85-year-old dad is using ChatGPT to break down the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) into logical, polished conversations. And yes, that’s really happening. Weird, but true.
I love AI and being AI-first, but lately I’ve stopped to question how we’re using and applying artificial intelligence. Can AI help us get the ideas rolling? Predict client concerns and questions before they happen? Can it help us write like a pro to augment thought leadership? I would say it’s all of the above, at least for me. But there still needs to be accountability on my end to ensure what I’m outputting is ALL me!
This realization has led me to question what is “good enough” in terms of content creation. For some, “good enough” is entering a few pointed prompts and posting AI’s output verbatim. And I see it more and more. You know what I’m talking about. The suspiciously similar LinkedIn articles that use the same words, the same formatting, the same whimsical emojis bookending key points. It’s become repetitive and, if I’m being honest, a little boring.
Personally, good enough is not even close to good enough. I’m not going to allow AI to become the voice I worked so hard to create. Because the minute I do, that voice is lost, and I risk becoming one of many in a sea of AI-created content.
This begs the question: Are you clinging to “good enough?”
The moment of questioning…
I only recently started questioning what is “good enough” where AI is concerned, especially when it comes to content creation.
You don’t become an influencer without producing mountains of unique content. Emphasis on “unique” here. While AI has allowed us to speed up the content creation process, at what cost? The loss of our voice? The perpetuation of vanilla thought leadership? The outright risk of posting inaccurate content?
And don’t think for a second that people aren’t watching, evaluating and criticizing.
Back to my dad for a moment…
I recently posted about his bromance with ChatGPT. His newfound love for AI’s speed and relevance. So far, he’s used AI to help him dissect the OBBB, research the best cheesecake recipes and write blogs on his volunteer gig. But beyond tax law and cheesecake ratios, he sees the power and possibilities of being AI-first.
When I posted this story on LinkedIn, I quickly learned just how closely my content is being scrutinized. A friend of my daughter questioned the veracity of the article. Was it another AI-generated tale, lacking any true heart and relevance? My “lurker” is a Gen Z, and like most, relishes in questioning without commenting. Had it not been for my daughter, I would never have known that my content was under a lens.
This was the moment I started questioning what’s good enough. The moment I questioned (out loud) how we’re using AI and if this supported being AI-first.
Quantity is not worth losing your identity
“Good enough” isn’t the same as good. It’s the standardization of voice, flavor and heart. And for professionals (like you and me) who’ve hustled to build reputations on insights and authenticity, that just doesn’t cut it. Our audiences deserve more than a vanilla AI overlay. They want perspective, nuance, those quirky asides that make them think, “Ah, that’s Jody talking.”
AI should be a spark, not the flame.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in on using AI as a brainstorming partner. It gets the ideas out fast, helps me spot gaps, and even polishes up some stubbornly awkward sentences. But if all I do is copy-and-paste what the AI spits out, I’m missing the chance to inject the “me” into my message.
What do clients, colleagues or your LinkedIn crowd really want? Not recycled takes; that’s for sure. They crave your unique read on the world. AI can tee up the ideas, but it’s on us to take a swing by adding personal experiences, relevant details and that signature point of view only you can offer.
So, before hitting “post” or “send,” do the gut check.
Is that LinkedIn post, blog or client message truly yours, or is it just...good enough? Did you give it the sniff test for insight, clarity and your voice? Or does it read like the digital equivalent of a microwave dinner that is semi-filling and forgettable? And as important, is it accurate? Remember, AI isn’t here to replace expertise; it’s here to enhance it.
Here’s how I’m working to keep myself AI-first-level honest:
Pause and review: Did I actually add something of value or a lived perspective, or just lightly edit AI’s draft?
Go past first drafts: AI is great for getting started, but I never let its output be my end product.
Keep it real: Little personal touches like an anecdote or a challenge I’ve faced or a lesson learned are what make content truly mine.
Remember the why: I ask myself who this is for and what they need from me, not just a bot with a personality.
AI-first over just good enough
Let’s be AI-first, and never good-enough-first. AI is here to accelerate and inspire, not to replace what matters most — your voice, my voice, my dad’s voice. It’s about being authentic and true to who we are in order to put really good content out into the world.
And, hey, if you see my dad out there peppering LinkedIn with sharp takes on the One Big Beautiful Bill or cheesecake trivia, just know, he’s probably mixing a little old-school wisdom with some new-school AI magic.
That’s exactly the kind of partnership that supports unique, relevant, AI-first content.
