What happens when you ask AI to tell you why AI isn’t as good when it comes to podcasting…

A humanoid robot

So this was irresistible. Off the back of recent discussion on LinkedIn about why quality matters when it comes to podcasting the debate turned to the issue of whether the future lay in AI generated content. I (Pen) couldn’t resist paying ChatGPT a quick visit to ask it to generate a blog post about why AI might not be as good when it comes to podcasting, you can read its response below. In the interests of full disclosure I instructed the AI to “write me a chatty, conversational, evidence based blog about why AI generated podcasts aren't as good as the real thing”…

Got it! Here’s how I would start:

Why AI-Generated Podcasts Aren’t Quite as Good as the Real Thing

Let’s be real for a second—AI is everywhere these days. From chatbots that help you out with customer service to tools that can write your emails, the tech world is buzzing with the promise of artificial intelligence. But when it comes to podcasts, one thing's for sure: AI-generated shows just don’t cut it the way the real deal does.

I mean, sure, we’re living in an age where AI can do some pretty amazing things. But, no matter how advanced the technology gets, there’s something irreplaceable about human hosts, real conversations, and that authentic vibe that only a person can bring.

Let’s dive into why AI-generated podcasts just can’t quite match up to the human touch—and why that's totally okay.

1. The Magic of Human Connection

Have you ever listened to a podcast and felt like the host was speaking directly to you? That’s because they are. Real-life hosts bring personal stories, humor, and emotions into their episodes, making the content feel like a conversation. They have a unique ability to pick up on tone, mood, and context, adjusting in real time based on how they feel or how the conversation is going.

AI? Well, it’s getting better at mimicking this, but it can’t truly feel anything. It doesn’t have personal experiences, emotions, or that spark of intuition that comes naturally to people. Even the best AI voice generators still sound, well… robotic. That little bit of awkwardness in the pacing, the sudden jumps in tone, or the way things sometimes get misinterpreted, just don’t capture the essence of what makes podcasts engaging.

2. The Quirks that Make Podcasts Special

Think about the quirks you’ve come to love in your favorite podcast hosts. Maybe they have a specific catchphrase, a goofy laugh, or a particular way of telling stories that just feels comforting. These little nuances are what build rapport with listeners. AI, on the other hand, might produce perfect audio, but it lacks those spontaneous, human imperfections.

Real hosts mess up sometimes, they laugh off mistakes, and those little hiccups make us feel like we’re sitting there in the room with them. AI-generated voices? They’re clean, but they can sound unnervingly perfect. Too perfect, even. There’s no room for those human idiosyncrasies that make a podcast feel like a shared experience.

3. AI Still Struggles with Context

One of the challenges AI faces when generating content is understanding context. Sure, it can analyze data and spit out facts, but when it comes to interpreting subtleties, nuance, and cultural references, it’s still pretty clueless. Human hosts can read the room, adjust to audience feedback, and go off-script in ways that resonate. An AI may miss the mark when it tries to throw in a joke or comment that seems out of place or falls flat.

This is where things like deep empathy, relatability, and adapting to the audience’s vibe come into play. AI simply doesn’t have the ability to truly read the emotional temperature of a conversation—whether it’s in real-time or through feedback.

4. Research and Depth – AI Needs Help

Sure, AI can process mountains of data at lightning speed, but quality research isn’t just about finding facts—it’s about curating information in a meaningful way. A skilled human podcaster doesn’t just look up statistics; they know how to contextualize them, give them depth, and weave them into a narrative that resonates with listeners.

AI doesn’t bring that personal touch. It can pull facts from databases, but it doesn’t know how to synthesize them into a compelling story that makes listeners feel something. Without human insight and judgment, the content risks feeling dry or overly mechanical.

5. The Human Touch in Interviews

AI-generated podcasts are starting to experiment with interviews, but let’s face it—nothing beats a real, spontaneous conversation. Imagine an AI trying to interview a celebrity or an expert. It may be able to ask relevant questions, but it won’t be able to read the situation, ask follow-ups based on intuition, or create that dynamic flow that makes interviews so interesting.

Real interviews, especially in the podcasting world, are about building relationships, making guests feel comfortable, and asking the questions no one else thinks to ask. AI lacks that flexibility and warmth.

6. The Personal Stories

Lastly, no matter how much technology advances, there’s no replacement for a real-life personal story. Human podcasters share moments of their lives—sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart-wrenching—that make us feel like we’re part of their journey. This is what makes podcasting such an intimate form of media.

AI-generated podcasts can’t tell your story because they don’t live a life—they can’t weave their own experiences into the narrative in ways that are relatable and meaningful. Their content might sound good, but it can’t stir the emotions the way a real person’s lived experience can.

In Conclusion

So, will AI-generated podcasts continue to evolve? Absolutely. They’ll probably get better over time. But, will they ever replace the magic of real, human-made podcasts? Probably not. There’s something irreplaceable about human voices, our quirks, and the stories we bring to the table.

For now, AI can assist in creating content, sure. But when it comes to building connection, creating engaging narratives, and sharing the kind of authenticity that makes podcasts so addictive—well, that’s still the realm of the real thing.

How does this look for your blog post so far? Let me know if you'd like to tweak anything or add more points!

Written by Chat GPT

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