Authenticity Matters Even More Now

Hey there! Christian Reed here, coming to you right from my kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand. I want to share a practical, human-centered approach to using generative AI. This method takes your own thoughts, ideas, and unique perspective and amplifies them—rather than letting AI take over the conversation. I firmly believe that people crave genuine human connections and experiences, not cookie-cutter outputs. And that’s where this process really shines.

Why Authenticity Matters

Before we dive into the “how,” I want to highlight the “why.” In a world where AI-generated messages, blog posts, or social media updates can feel robotic, authenticity wins. People aren’t logging onto LinkedIn, YouTube, or any other platform to read or listen to a robot. They want to hear from you, connect with you, and learn from your perspective.

Yes, AI is incredibly useful. It can help you format, structure, and even refine your thoughts. But if it’s not your voice shining through, people will notice—and they’ll scroll right past you. Being intentional about how you integrate AI into your workflow is the key to delivering value without sacrificing that human touch.

My 4-Step Process to Create Authentic AI-Assisted Content

Here’s the step-by-step process that I personally use to ensure my content remains genuine and true to my voice, while still leveraging the efficiency and intelligence of AI:

1. Record Your Thoughts – (DJI Mic)

I like to start by speaking freely—no script, no constraints—just raw, authentic me. Sometimes I’m in my kitchen (like now), or maybe I’m driving in my car. The goal is to capture the real tone, pacing, and energy of my ideas. The best way to do this is to just record yourself in the moment.

Why this matters: You’ll get the nuances of how you naturally talk and think, which is much harder to replicate if you just sit down at a keyboard and start typing.

2. Transcribe Your Recording

Once you’ve got your audio, upload it to a service like Descript. Descript is my go-to tool for transcribing audio, because it’s fast, accurate, and user-friendly. It’ll convert your spoken words into text with minimal fuss.

Why this matters: This transcription is the foundation. It’s your exact voice, your exact words—no AI meddling or rephrasing yet.

3. Refine and Structure with Generative AI

Now, take that raw transcript and copy it into ChatGPT (specifically, I like ChatGPT01—OpenAI’s latest model). Here’s the trick: tell ChatGPT to only analyze your words, your context, and your existing ideas. Don’t let it invent new concepts or points you didn’t discuss. Instead, ask it to:

• Clean up repetitive phrases without losing your original meaning.

• Organize the content into a logical flow (i.e., introduction, key points, conclusion).

• Offer suggestions for clarity while keeping your voice intact.

Why this matters: You’re leveraging the AI’s strength—its ability to tidy up, reorganize, and clarify—without letting it rewrite your personality out of the text. It’s still you, just more polished.

4. Archive and Extract Knowledge

Finally, if you want to turn this process into a powerful repository of your ideas, you can upload everything—your transcripts, refined text, notes, etc.—into a tool like NotebookLM. This keeps your material all in one place, making it easy to reference or build upon in the future.

Why this matters: Over time, this becomes a living library of your institutional knowledge, whether that’s for your own business, your classroom, or your public speaking career.

Real-World Applications of This Process

1. Preserving Institutional Knowledge

Let’s say a longtime employee at your company is about to retire. They have decades of invaluable know-how, and you need a way to capture it. Simply record a series of interviews or casual conversations with them. Then use Descript to transcribe their words. Bring it into ChatGPT01 for organization. Finally, store it in NotebookLM. You now have a searchable, easy-to-use archive of their expertise. No more losing critical knowledge just because someone moves on!

2. Elevating Public Speaking

If you’re a public speaker (like I am), you can record your speeches as you deliver them—right there at the podium or stage. Afterward, run the audio through this process. Not only will you get a transcript, but you can also quickly identify what worked, what didn’t, and how you can improve. Plus, ChatGPT01 can help you craft personalized follow-ups to your audience. Imagine sending a quick email or social media post recapping the main points of your talk—aligned perfectly with your original speech, in your own voice—just minutes after stepping off stage.

3. Empowering Educators

Teachers, this one’s for you. Record your lectures, discussions, or instructions. Use Descript to transcribe them, and leverage ChatGPT01 to format your notes or create quick recaps. Post them for your students so they have an exact summary of what you covered in class. You can even transform your recordings into blog-style articles or study guides, making sure that crucial information doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.

My Final Takeaway

The bottom line is this: AI should complement your creativity and expertise, not replace it. By starting with your authentic voice—be it in a conversation, a classroom lecture, or a speech—and letting AI refine rather than rewrite, you can produce high-quality, human-centered content. Whether you’re building a personal brand, preserving decades of institutional knowledge, or just trying to make sure your message hits home, this workflow is a game-changer.

I hope you find these steps useful. Trust me, once you start creating AI-assisted content this way, you’ll see how much more impactful it is when it’s truly your own words at the core. Give it a try, and let me know how it goes!