In a recent blog post titled "What Happens to Originality When AI Can Make Everything" by my friend Nick McClain, a crucial question is raised: If AI can generate anything, what happens to originality? As AI tools become increasingly capable of producing endless amounts of content—blogs, videos, social media posts—it becomes more important than ever to remember what makes content actually matter: the human story behind it.
I’ve known Nick for a while—we worked on a project together years ago—and I’ve always respected his thoughtful approach to creative work. His blog nails something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately: how do we hold on to real connection in an AI-saturated world?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about this in the context of AI avatars. It’s easy to get caught up in the novelty—an avatar that can talk, move, and deliver a script. But the real opportunity isn’t just in automation. It’s in amplification. The story still has to come from somewhere. And more importantly, it has to mean something.
Nick points out in his blog that AI-generated content can quickly fall into a trap of sameness—optimized, templated, and ultimately forgettable. The antidote? Real human intention. Clear messaging. Honest emotion. In other words, the kind of communication that resonates because it’s rooted in something real.
Anyone who knows me knows how important real connection is to me. I love tech, but I love people more. Avatars can absolutely help deliver and distribute a message more efficiently, but the human-to-human moment—the real conversation, the shared understanding—that still matters just as much as it ever did. Maybe even more.
That’s the challenge I think about constantly: how do we ensure that what our AI tools are saying actually connects with people? Avatars can be powerful messengers, but the message needs to be grounded in truth—your origin story, your mission, your values. Otherwise, it’s just another talking head in an overcrowded feed.
Because even in a world where AI can generate everything, *not everything deserves to be heard*. The brands that stand out will be the ones that stay true to themselves—using AI not to replace originality, but to share it more powerfully.
