top of page

What Live TV Captioning Taught Me About Using AI Wisely

  • Feb 5
  • 3 min read

This morning, Levi and I had Breakfast Television on in the background while the kids were doing what kids do best: being loud and chaotic.

 

We had the closed captioning on because it’s the only way to get the gist of the news when you’ve got toys clattering and negotiations happening over who touched whose Lego first.

 

Watching the captions roll by, I found myself wondering when live morning TV made the switch to AI captioning. I assume it has. It would make sense. Faster. Cheaper. More efficient.

 

But it unlocked a memory I hadn’t thought about in years. In my early twenties, when I worked in television, there was a woman (I think her name may have been Carol?) who did live closed captioning for the show. She worked from home. Typed everything. In real time. Every word the hosts said, every stumble, every laugh, every tangent.

And every once in a while, Kevin Frankish, who hosted the show for decades, would do a segment where he’d talk to Carole. She’d type her responses on screen. The audience loved it. It was human. Playful. Imperfect. Alive.

 

That memory stayed with me because it highlights something important about where we are now.

 

Yes, AI can caption live TV.Yes, it can write your emails, your posts, your blogs.Yes, it can help you stay efficient and relevant.

 

But Carole wasn’t just transcribing words. She was listening. Interpreting tone. Keeping up with the rhythm of live humans being human.

 

And that’s the piece I don’t want us to lose.

 

Use AI. Absolutely.But don’t hand it the wheel without bringing your own thoughts, memories, opinions, and lived experience into the process.

 

Because when you skip that part, everything starts to sound the same.Flat.Predictable.Like AI slop.

 

Time for this week's Digital Marketing Made Simple lesson of the week:

Peeps can tell when we overuse AI.

 

It's not just via the telltale M dash —

And I repeat - it's OK to be using it! I know I do! It's just important that we use it wisely. The internet rewards original content - and the stuff you get from AI without adding in YOUR perspective? Well, it's just the same sh*t regurgitated by every other person in your field who's not adding their unique spin.

 

A Simple Framework for Using AI Without Losing Your Voice

Here’s the framework I teach (and follow myself) so your marketing stays human, clear, and effective; not generic or soulless.

 

1. Origin First, AI Second

Start with you.

Before you open ChatGPT or any AI tool, ask:

  • What did I actually experience?

  • What do I believe about this?

  • What do I want to say that might not be popular?

 

Write the messy version first. Notes, voice memo, bullet points, half-sentences.

 

2. Use AI as an Editor, Not an Author

Once your idea exists, bring AI in as:

  • An editor

  • A structure builder

  • A clarity filter

 

Good basic prompts sound like:

  • “Help me tighten this while keeping my tone.”

  • “Organize this into a clear flow without adding fluff.”

  • “Make this easier to understand, not more impressive.”

 

3. Preserve Friction

Not everything needs to be smoothed out.

Your pauses.Your edge.Your weird analogies.

 

Those moments of friction are what signal:

“A real human is behind this.”

If AI removes all the bumps, put some back in on purpose.

 

4. Let AI Handle the Boring Stuff

This is where AI actually shines:

  • Formatting

  • Repurposing

  • Captions from long-form content

  • Subject line variations

  • Summaries and excerpts

 

5. Final Human Pass (Non-Negotiable)

Before you publish, read it and ask:

  • Would I say this out loud?

  • Does this sound like me on a good day?

  • Would my people recognize my voice?

 

If the answer is no, revise.

AI should never be the last touchpoint.


Comments

bottom of page