Ever experienced the feeling when reading something… that it’s just a bit off? And that it sounds at best ‘pedestrian’, like a robot could have written it? I know I have! As I’m an avid reader and a professional writer, you can probably imagine my ire when a few months ago I sat down to devour a freshly synced book on my Kindle. Yep, you guessed it – AI generated crap and it was so dull I found it unreadable. Utter horseshit. And aside from feeling just disappointed, I actually felt RIPPED OFF.
Now, with AI writing tools becoming as common as coffee shops on every corner, the world is drowning in content that feels… well, soulless.
Hey There, Humanoid’s mission is GO. “To save language lovers of the world from bleughh robotic buckets of words.” Absolutely not anti-AI, I’m a nerd and love it; but I’m most certainly advocating for AI content that’s human-centric.
Here’s the thing: AI can be brilliant at generating ideas, structuring thoughts, and even pulling together decent sentences. But there’s a massive gap between “decent” and “distinctly you.” The magic happens in that gap, it’s the spot where your voice, personality, and expertise transform blah-blah-blah AI output into content that actually hits the spot with your audience.
Want some tips on how you can master the art of editing AI-generated content to make it authentically yours? Dive on in…
Why Generic AI Content Falls Flat – Let’s Count the Reasons
Before getting into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.”
Why does unedited AI content often miss the mark?
LLMs (Large Language Models) power AI writing and all are trained on millions of pieces of content from across the web. Essentially they are highly sophisticated pattern-matching machines that predict what word should come next based on what they’ve seen before. This means they operate mathematically at their core, and not from a language loving POV.
It’s why they tend to produce content that’s:
- Formulaic: AI loves templates and structures it’s seen repeatedly
- Generic: It aims for broad appeal rather than specific connection
- Risk-averse: It avoids controversial opinions or strong stances
- Lacking personality: There’s no personal experience or unique perspective woven in
When using your favourite AI model, you should consider what it gives you as a rough sketch. It will spit out for you a basic outline, but you need to add the colour, texture, and details that make it a masterpiece. Your work of art.
AI Content Editing’s Biggest Rule: Know Your Voice
Before you can knead and massage AI content to sound like you, you must be clear on what “you” actually sounds like. And, this actually isn’t as obvious as it might seem.
Your writing voice is multi-layered and includes:
- Tone: Are you chatty and informal, or more authoritative and professional?
- Personality quirks: Do you use humour? Tell stories? Ask rhetorical questions?
- Vocabulary choices: Do you prefer simple language or more sophisticated terms?
- Opinion strength: Are you diplomatic or do you take bold stances?
- Personal touches: Do you share personal anecdotes or stick to general examples?
Straight after reading this article, there’s a job waiting for you. Take a moment to review some of your best-performing content. What patterns do you notice? What about it would make people confident to say, “That sounds exactly like something you’d write”? What you discover are all elements of your brand voice. (Make a note of these to develop a brand voice guide).
Step 1: Add Your Personality from the Word Go
A very common blunder people make when trying to edit AI content, is to try and keep the output’s original structure intact. There’s no need, and to be honest it’s best not to. Instead, use the AI output as raw material that you can reshape completely.
Start the process by reading through the entire piece and asking yourself: “If I were having a conversation with my ideal client about this topic, how would I actually explain it?”
Let’s say AI gives you this opening:
“Content marketing is essential for businesses looking to establish authority and attract customers.”
Pretty vanilla, right?
Your edited version might be:
“Last week, a client told me their biggest frustration: they were creating and sharing content constantly, yet they felt like they were shouting into the void. Does this sound familiar to you?
or even…
“Earning the trust customers and getting them to the point of wallet-opening requires more than just posting an occasional blog post or random social media update. If this has been your game plan to date, step aside as strategic content needs to move in and muscle towards the front. Regular, authoritative content is a must for establishing credibility and attracting the right audience to your business.”
See the difference? The second versions both immediately seek connection and create relatability.
Step 2: Bring Some Real Examples and Stories
AI content usually relies on generic examples that could apply to anyone, anywhere. Your job is to swap these out for specific, relevant stories that your audience will actually read and care about.
Instead of just copy-pasting: “For example, a company might see increased engagement when they post regularly.”
Try this instead: “Take Sarah, one of my long-term clients who runs a sustainable fashion brand. She’s gone from around 12 likes per instagram post to consistent engagement in the hundreds. And not by posting more, but by sharing the story behind each piece she designs. I’m sure your business has plenty of stories, so be more like Sarah.”
Real examples do three things:
- They prove you know what you’re talking about
- They help readers visualise success
- The make abstract concepts concrete, even if the details are tiny and specific (=credibility)
Step 3: Replace AI’s Sit-on-the-Fence Words with Confident Language
AI loves hedge words like “might,” “could,” “potentially,” and “in some cases.” These words don’t lock you into false claims, but they do make your content feel wishy-washy and uncertain.
Your audience doesn’t want maybes, they want guidance from someone who knows their stuff. And if you want to be seen as a go-to business in your industry, you’re going to have to stand for something, not fence sit.
Change:
“This strategy could potentially help you see better results.”
To something like:
“This strategy will transform your results. It works and I know it does, because I’ve seen it succeed for dozens of clients.”
The key is backing up your confidence with experience and evidence.
Step 4: Add Your Unique Insights and Hot Takes
Here’s where you should really make AI content your own: add insights that only you could provide. This might be:
- A contrarian viewpoint based on your experience (stir some shit up, I dare you!)
- A connection between two seemingly unrelated concepts
- A prediction about where your industry is heading
- A common misconception you frequently encounter
For instance, if you’re writing about social media marketing, you might add:
“Everyone talks about posting consistently, but here’s what they don’t tell you: consistency without strategy is just pissing in the wind. I’d rather see you post twice a week with intention than daily posts that mean little don’t serve your goals.”
Step 5: Adjust the Emotional Temperature
AI tends to be emotionally neutral, but your best content probably has feeling behind it. Are you frustrated by a common industry practice? Excited about a new development? Empathetic to your audience’s struggles?
Don’t be afraid to show emotion in your writing. It’s what makes people feel connected to you rather than just informed by you. And it’s genuinely something robots haven’t got the knack of yet.
Step 6: Tighten Your Transitions and Flow
AI generated content often feels choppy or disjointed. As you edit, pay attention to how ideas flow from one to the next.
Ask yourself:
- Does each paragraph logically follow the previous one?
- Are there smooth bridges between different sections?
- Would a reader get lost if they skimmed through?
Good transitions aren’t just about stumble-free reading. Well written transitions take your reader on a journey that feels intentional and well-planned. Smooth writing feels thoughtful and AI output can really miss the mark here.
Step 7: End with Your Authentic Call-to-Action
AI often generates generic calls-to-action like “Contact us to learn more” or “Visit our website for additional resources.” Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Your CTA should reflect your personality and make a specific promise. Instead of asking people to “get in touch,” tell them exactly what they’ll get when they do:
“Ready to transform your AI-generated content into something that sounds unmistakably you? Book a call with me, because making your unique voice be seen is exactly what I do best.”
Here’s the Edit That Makes the Biggest Difference
The number one difference between content that converts and content that gets skipped over is the answer to this question: does it sound like a real person wrote it for other real people?
If the answer is a floor-stomping yes, then you’re good. If it’s a no, rework it until it does. Your edit has to go beyond removing pesky em-dashes, swapping z’s for s’s and deleting the tired old AI phrasing (you know, in the fast-paced business world..)
Your endpoint needs to showcase your expertise, personality, and unique perspective. So take it from something that could have been written by anyone to a piece of writing that could only have been created by you.
And the best part? The more you practice this editing process, the better you’ll get at prompting AI to give you drafts that are closer to your voice from the start. AI can handle the heavy lifting of structure and research, and you can focus on what you do best: being authentically you.
Your Voice Still Rules the Roost
AI can generate endless amounts of content. And it is being used to do so. Seeing it everywhere, right?
Before long there’s going to be clear winners in the content game, those who write with the efficiency of AI, blended seamlessly with the irreplaceable value of human insight and personality.
Ready to transform your AI-generated content into something that sounds unmistakably you? Well, that’s something I can certainly help with. Book a strategy session, or grab a Prompt Playbook, just start using AI as a bloody good tool and not your replacement.
