I Was Using AI Wrong | TSS #128
Recent thoughts on using AI in content creation, and how I've found a new way that works so much better for me - boosting productivity while keeping my authentic voice.
THE DAILY MUSING
Reflections on AI and Content Creation — I was using AI Wrong:
[NOTE: I’m keeping this one fairly short and practical today. This mainly applies to content creators, but you could probably use this same philosophy/method for so many different contexts. It’s simple but so effective. Enjoy.]
I’ve been using AI to help with my videos for a while now.
As most of us have experienced, it’s a great tool for rapid ideation and quick analysis.
It’s even fantastic for deep research now, and so many other tasks.
It’s been very helpful for the initial stages of video creation, and quick review of existing ideas.
I primarily use ChatGPT.
It’s been a lifesaver in so many ways, but there’s a huge task that it just cannot seem to do for me.
—
It still can’t capture my exact intended TONE.
I can’t just get it to write a script in my particular style, then use it to record my videos. I’m never very impressed by it’s scripts — I can’t use it verbatim. Ever.
Moreover, my ‘intended tone’ changes all the time based on the content. I might just ‘feel’ like it should be different, for no explainable reason.
So GPT’s scripts just can’t match up.
It doesn’t sound right.
Not quite.
It’s often actually TOO ‘perfect.’
It’s still too ‘cookie-cutter,’ even when it can MIMIC me well.
It’s too good and smooth that it doesn’t quite reflect the nebulous erratic-ness that makes my ‘voice’ unique.
It’s missing the grammatically-incorrect-yet-intentionally-jarring sentences and ragtag passages that I jam together.
I combine words and ideas together in ways that I desire in that moment.
I literally ‘make shit up.’
I’m not a fully rational being, and these ‘blips’ of mysterious linguistic expressions are part of MY ‘true tone.’
—
That’s kind of the whole fucking point.
ChatGPT is doing a great job, but it’s not ME.
And it SHOULDN’T BE me.
This is part of what I love about making videos anyway — writing and scripting and speaking.
This is the work that I love — and the work that ONLY I CAN MAKE — so why would I even want to automate it away?
—
I think I’ve had false expectations AND priorities when using AI tools to help with my video creation.
I didn’t use it properly.
That’s not GPT’s fault — that’s on me.
It was my misunderstanding. The tool is just doing what I asked of it.
Sorry bro. I blamed you for no reason.
—
Now, I’ve found a way to work WITH the tools in the most efficient way possible WHILE preserving my actual intended voice.
It’s so fucking simple that I cannot believe I hadn’t done this before.
I’ll be brief here (I plan to explain in a video/post later), but basically:
I now use AI almost exclusively as a hyper-efficient COLLAGE or ARRANGEMENT tool, rather than a GENERATION tool.
Basically, I don’t really get it ‘create’ it’s OWN stuff, I just chuck in my raw notes and sentences, and get it to help me ‘organise’ MY stuff.
I specifically ask it to do everything using my own exact words via the notes I provide to it, and arrange them into points/structures that make logical sense (or are maximally engaging, depending on what I want). I sometimes instruct that it can make edits (for grammar or flow), but to put ALL edits and additions in square brackets so I can see exactly where it deviated from my original language.
This way, I’m using the immense processing speed/power of GPT to OFFLOAD a small but energy-consuming aspect of my scripting workflow. It’s simply taking the duty of arrangement.
I get to just dump ALL of my unfiltered, REAL thoughts into a document, then I get GPT to help me filter through it and organise it into a coherent narrative. This is so useful because often my ‘brain dumps’ are disjointed, dense, and downright daunting to revisit. It’s a pile of shit that I have to sift through to find the golden nuggets inside.
While I don’t mind doing that task at all (and I’m GOOD at it), the practical demands of high-volume content creation (eg. posting 7-10x per week) means that I can’t afford to spend TOO MUCH time sifting through ideas. I need to bash it out QUICK, while still keeping my integrity and genuine voice.
This is the best way that I’ve found so far. I feel like a fucking cyborg. It’s truly me and the machine, working in beautiful harmony, only enhancing each other.
The results have been great so far. So much more faithful to my exact thoughts (since it’s literally my writing, word-for-word), and saves so much headache. I just brain dump, copy-paste, get GPT to organise for me, review the script and make small edits, then start recording.
Give it a shot, and see how you go.
THE WEEKLY HAUL
Edwin Land’s motto (creator of Polaroid and instant film):
“My motto is very personal and may not fit anyone else or any other company. It is: Don't do anything that someone else can do. Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.”
How fucking sick is that? Full agree. This is obviously taken to an extreme, but to some extent it’s absolutely the best way to live for me.
Founders Podcast episodes:
THE MAIN QUESTION
QUESTION I WAS ASKED THIS WEEK:
What’s a podcast that you recommend or have been listening to recently?
MY ANSWER:
Undoubtedly the Founders Podcast by David Senra.
[NOTE — some great episodes linked above]
I’ve been absolutely spamming these again. Need to BRAINWASH myself once more with the right things.
While I love watching things from people making big moves right now (big accounts that I follow online, other podcasts, etc), the founders and operators of the biggest brands IN HISTORY are still in a completely different league to most of the ‘influencers and businessmen’ today. They’ve built empires that have lasted decades (Ferrari, Disney, Apple, etc), sometimes centuries — not just blown up in the last few years with the help of the internet.
All of these people are insane. Every single one of them. These guys are the real fucking deal. Not perfect, no necessarily great people. But their REAL stories are so inspirational and there’s countless weird parallels that I’m seeing, things that can help me in my own journey. Fuck yes. 10/10 recommend.
Something I told my tribe member (ie. one of my closest friends) is — when you feel stuck in your business or content creation path, just listen to as many Founders podcast episodes as you can, and something WILL click. Some idea will resonate, and you will feel the fire burst alight again.
That’s it for today.
I contemplated just cutting this one shorter and skip some sections, since I’m so tired and time-poor right now.
But, I had shit to say and things to share.
So here it is.
It’s done.
Now, I can finally rest.
This weekend has been crazy.
Glad to be alive, surrounded by the best.
See you soon.
Love you all.
-Jack.