A subtle shift is happening in the way we communicate. Have you noticed it? Increasingly, texts – even personal ones – feel…off. Not wrong, exactly, but lacking a certain human spark, a warmth that’s hard to define.
The culprit isn’t malice, but reliance. Powerful AI tools, like ChatGPT, are readily available, and many are leaning on them a little too heavily. This isn’t about the technology itself, but about preserving the authenticity of human connection in our writing.
One of the quickest giveaways of AI-generated text is the em-dash—that long dash used to interrupt a thought. ChatGPT loves them, often deploying them where a natural pause or simpler punctuation would suffice. Unless your friend is a professional writer with a penchant for dramatic pauses, an abundance of em-dashes is a red flag.
Look for overly constructed phrasing. Sentences that begin with “This isn’t just…” or “It’s not only…” often signal AI involvement. These constructions feel deliberate, as if trying too hard to emphasize a point rather than expressing a genuine sentiment.
ChatGPT struggles with negativity. It defaults to balance, constantly offering “on the one hand…on the other hand…” This results in a frustratingly neutral tone, as if a cautious diplomat penned the message. Genuine human writing isn’t afraid to take a stand.
A truly personal message carries the weight of individual experience. AI, even when prompted for warmth, tends to rely on generic superlatives, lacking the specific details and reflections that make writing truly resonate. It can mimic emotion, but rarely embodies it.
Be wary of unnecessary summaries or repetitive phrasing. ChatGPT has a habit of restating the same idea in multiple ways, often using convoluted language. A concise email from a colleague ending with a recap should raise your suspicions.
Perfection can be a warning sign. While careful writing is admirable, flawless grammar and spelling in every message are unusual. If a text is suspiciously error-free, consider the possibility that it wasn’t crafted by a human hand.
There are tools claiming to detect AI-generated text, but their accuracy is questionable. Many misidentify human writing as artificial, highlighting the difficulty of definitively distinguishing between the two.
Ultimately, discerning the source requires a careful reading. Pay attention to the tone, the phrasing, and the overall feeling of the text. Is it authentic and engaging, or does it feel…manufactured?
