At a recent San Diego conference, a panelist shared that she doesn’t use ChatGPT for first drafts because she wants to “retain her voice.” She believes AI is fine as an editor, but not as a creator. Her comment drew nods around the room — and I understood why. Many people fear that using AI to write means giving up the very thing that makes their words theirs.

But sitting there, I couldn’t help thinking: that’s not my experience at all.

We’ve all seen it — the generic AI blog post that begins, “In today’s fast-paced world…” or the LinkedIn post that reads like AI talking to AI. Critics call it “AI slop” or “work slop,” dismissing everything produced with these tools as soulless and synthetic. But here’s the truth: that sameness doesn’t come from the technology itself — it comes from how it’s used.

If you rush a free AI tool, don’t give it context, and skip editing, you’ll get something that sounds generic. But if you collaborate with it — the way I have with ChatGPT for more than two years — it learns your rhythm, phrasing, humor, and even your quirks. It starts to sound like you because you’ve trained it to.

I use the $20/month paid plan of ChatGPT, which allows it to remember things about me and my writing style over time. That memory makes all the difference. It knows how I phrase things, when I use humor, and how I structure sentences. It even fixes my grammar (thank you, ChatGPT!). That’s not laziness — that’s collaboration. It’s no different than a writer working with a long-time editor who just “gets” their voice. AI can be that kind of editor too — one that grows with you.

AI can be a mirror, not a mask.

A recent LinkedIn poll by Sam Mallikarjunan, General Manager at Agent.ai asked: How does it make you feel when you get a message clearly written by AI? Over half — 52% — said “annoyed.” Only 3% said “happy.” That hit me harder than I expected.

Why are people annoyed by something that’s grammatically correct, clear, and professional? Maybe it’s because AI writing feels too polished — too “perfect.” We’ve learned to equate typos and casual tone with authenticity. But polished writing doesn’t mean impersonal writing. Complete sentences aren’t a crime; they’re clarity.

Somewhere along the way, society accepted lazy writing as “authentic.” We treat half-finished thoughts, fragments, and text-message shorthand as proof of humanity — while clear, structured writing gets labeled robotic. We’ve confused effortless with effortless-looking.

But here’s the thing: complete sentences don’t just make something easier to read — they make it easier to understand. They connect ideas, not just words. They help preserve nuance and logic — the very tools of civil discourse. When we stop writing complete thoughts, we stop thinking in complete thoughts.

We’ve become a culture in a hurry — rushing to post, to respond, to move on. But why the rush? Communication isn’t a race. Maybe it’s time we unlearn some of our bad habits. Because if we keep valuing speed over depth, we’re heading toward the kind of future the movie Idiocracy warned us about — one where complexity is seen as elitist, and clear thought becomes rare.

There’s a misconception that using AI to write is lazy or even cheating. But what does that say about how we view creativity? Is a calculator “cheating” at math? Is Photoshop “cheating” at design? Tools don’t erase skill — they amplify it when used with intention.

I’ve found that using ChatGPT actually requires more thought, not less. I refine prompts, guide tone, adjust structure, and then go back through the piece with my own edits. I never copy and paste blindly. I polish every article until it reflects my standards — and I still run everything through a plagiarism checker to ensure originality and minimize duplication.

That’s effort. That’s discipline. And it’s exactly the opposite of laziness.

What most critics miss is that people who invest in paid versions of AI tools — who feed them context, writing samples, and feedback — get results that reflect them. You don’t lose your voice; you teach AI how to speak your language. It’s still your work — just more refined, more consistent, and sometimes, more you than even your unedited first draft.

A friend of mine once said one of my AI-written emails sounded “rude.” When I asked why, the answer surprised me: “It’s too long.”

I laughed — not because that reaction was wrong, but because it revealed something about our communication habits. We’ve grown so accustomed to short bursts and scrolling feeds that anything longer than a few lines feels excessive. But brevity isn’t the same as clarity. Sometimes, you need four paragraphs to express a thought fully.

Just like a symphony can’t be condensed into a TikTok, meaningful writing can’t always be reduced to a soundbite. When we speak only in headlines, we lose the story. When we trade substance for speed, we forget how to listen.

Long writing isn’t indulgent — it’s generous. It gives readers room to think, not just react.

So, let’s redefine the term “AI voice.” It’s not a robotic echo of the internet — it’s a reflection of the human who uses it thoughtfully. My AI collaborator doesn’t replace my creativity; it extends it. Together, we turn drafts into conversations and structure into storytelling.

And yes — this very article was written with help from ChatGPT, my AI collaborator. It helped me organize my thoughts, build drafts, and refine the edits I suggested. So, what do you think? Would you have known if I hadn’t told you? 😉

The fear of losing your voice to AI is understandable. But maybe the real risk isn’t losing it — it’s never taking the time to teach AI what your voice actually is.

Because when you do, you’ll find something remarkable: The AI voice isn’t replacing the human one — it’s learning to speak with it.

Q1: Why do people think AI writing all sounds the same?
A: Because many use free or basic versions of AI tools without giving them personal context. Generic prompts lead to generic output. The sameness isn’t the AI—it’s the lack of human effort behind it.

Q2: How can AI writing sound more human?
A: By building a relationship with the tool. Share past work, explain tone preferences, and revise collaboratively. Over time, AI adapts and starts writing with you, not for you.

Q3: Why are people annoyed by AI-written messages?
A: Polished communication can feel impersonal to those used to casual or fragmented writing. But grammar and structure don’t erase sincerity—they enhance clarity.

Q4: Is using AI to write considered cheating?
A: Not at all. It’s only “cheating” if you use it to avoid thinking. Using AI thoughtfully requires vision, editing, and intentionality—the same traits great writers have always needed.

Q5: What’s the future of writing with AI?
A: The future belongs to writers who merge clarity, empathy, and technology. Those who use AI as a co-writer will set new standards for communication, not diminish them.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.