Be More Human in the Age of AI
My nine-year-old summed up the AI backlash in three words. Why I am stepping back from generative video and music, and why the imperfect human touch is what actually builds trust.
Three words. That’s all it took.
The other morning, the television was on in our living room, just background noise for the morning news, when a commercial cut in. My nine-year-old glanced up from his pancakes, looked at the screen, and let out a visceral groan: “Ugh, AI. Gross.”
Three words from a nine-year-old, and I heard the whole conversation the culture is already having.
The Early Adopter
As I’ve documented here, I was all in on AI video. Not as a skeptic or a cautious experimenter, but as someone genuinely excited about the efficiency it promised. I started with Synthesia and HeyGen to create courses, then jumped on Google Veo and Kling to build generative content. And I wasn’t wrong about one thing: it works, and it saves time and money.
For educational content that needs regular updates, AI video is genuinely efficient. For stories and stunts I could never have afforded to produce otherwise, it opened doors that were previously closed. I codified my ethical framework in my book, Market Like a Rockstar:
“AI for efficiency is good. AI for deception is bad.”
That’s my line in the sand.
The Shift
But something’s changed. Or maybe I’ve changed.
After my son’s reaction and some honest reflection about my own motivations, specifically about creating AI content while trying to build credibility for my book and speaking, I’ve started to soften on my own enthusiasm. Here’s what I’m noticing: in a world where everything is trying to be perfect, the imperfect is what actually stands out.
I’ve even reworked my AI Keynote. It used to be called “Responding Heroically to the Challenges of AI.” Now it’s “Be More Human in the Age of AI.” Instead of encouraging people not to be victims of AI, I’m encouraging them to use AI to deepen human connection, not erode it.
The backlash has already begun. People aren’t craving more AI content. They’re craving authenticity. And every time AI video appears on social media or in advertising, the viewer’s first question isn’t “Is this message compelling?” It’s “Is this real?”
That question overshadows everything else.
The Same Principle, Another Medium
Over the summer, while finishing my book and working on my 2027 speaking tour, I’ve been making music with a wonderful friend. New music. New songs. New hooks. New beats. But with one hard rule: no AI.
Not because the tech isn’t capable. It is. But because AI music tricks you into thinking it’s good when it’s only derivative. It’s disqualifying. And when people hear it, they feel that emptiness, even if they can’t name it.
Going Forward
So here’s my commitment: I’m picking up my camera. I’m picking up my bass guitar. I’m picking up my pen. At least to get things started. Human first.
For my work going forward, I’m stepping away from generative tools for a bit. The slight awkwardness of a real take, the unexpected laugh, the pause where I’m thinking. That’s the human touch that actually builds trust.
AI for efficiency? I still believe in that for the right applications. But for video content and music, I’m going old school for a while, not because the tech isn’t good enough, but because the feeling it creates is also real, and it’s not good.
So I have a question for you
Where in your work could a little more human do a lot more good?
If your team is wrestling with how to use AI without losing the human connection your customers actually trust, that is exactly what my keynotes, workshops, and leadership sessions are built for. Learn more at taianderson.live/keynotes.
Originally published on LinkedIn, September 8, 2026.
