Howdy Reader!

First, a quick story.

I don’t know about you, but our family has a habit of sending funny videos to each other, especially from Instagram.

I shared a funny clip to my daughter Abby, and she responded to me, “Dad, that’s AI!”

So two things…

First, I was a little embarrassed. I’m the guy who talks and trains people on AI, and I let this slip past me.

Second, based on her reaction, does humor hit differently when you know it’s AI?

This really got me thinking: Are we (as creators, entrepreneurs, and even consumers) engaging with Reels or short-form content the same way now that we ask the question, “Is this AI?”

Is our brain quietly asking: “Is this real? Am I actually seeing a kid’s T-ball hitting dad in the nether-regions, or am I watching something generated by an algorithm?”

And maybe that changes how we feel, laugh, respond, and share.

This ties directly into a recent post by Mark Schaefer, where he argues that AI platforms prefer text over audio or video because it's easier for them to process.

He also mentions how many of us now watch with an “Is this real?” filter that gives us a mental pause.

So, fearless reader, I’d love your thoughts on a couple of things.

1. Are you personally scrolling less or engaging less deeply with Reels or short-form video lately?
2. Does humor land differently when you know or suspect it was created or influenced by AI?

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Maybe you laugh less, or move on faster when you see AI?

As a creator, how can you show you're “a real human behind the screen” and stand out?

Here are a few quick ideas that you can try this week:

• Share a behind-the-scenes snippet or first take.
• Add a quick note on what was scripted vs. improvised.
• Include context or a personal tie-in that only you could know.

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Hit reply and let me know what you're noticing. I’ll pick a few responses and include them in next week's email (crediting you, of course!)

Here’s the link to Mark’s article if you want to dig deeper: Why text matters so much to AI search success (and more!)​

See ya around the interwebs,

-Jeff

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