Staying Authentic in an AI-Driven World

By Agent Historia Branding

How to Keep the Human Connection Alive.

I’ve learned that staying authentic isn’t optional—it’s essential. In this blog, I’m sharing how I’ve personally balanced AI with authenticity and how you can do the same to keep your customers connected to you and your brand.

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere right now, and I have to admit—it’s been a game-changer for small businesses like mine. From automating repetitive tasks to creating graphics in minutes, AI has helped me save time and get more done.

But here’s the thing: the beauty of what we do as business owners—especially in branding and marketing—is our ability to connect with people in a way that feels real. Customers don’t want to feel like they’re just another number in your database. They want to know there’s a human behind the screen who truly understands their needs.

The Challenges of Authenticity in an AI-Driven Era

Why Staying Real Matters:
Let’s be honest—AI can be a little “too good.” When every brand starts using the same tools, like ChatGPT for captions or DALL·E for graphics, the results start looking eerily similar. Suddenly, it’s hard to tell one business apart from another.

I’ve seen this firsthand when I tested AI for social media content on one of my brands. It looked great on the surface, but it felt… hollow. The captions didn’t have the personality or humor that my clients are used to. I quickly realized that if I leaned too much on AI, I’d lose what makes my businesses stand out: me.

The Risks of Overusing AI:

  1. Blending In:

    • If your captions, emails, and designs start to feel generic, your audience might scroll right past them.

    • For example, when I tested an AI-generated email for Dark & Devious, it lacked the cheeky tone my customers love. It worked technically, but it didn’t feel right.

  2. Missing Emotional Cues:

    • AI can’t pick up on the little nuances that make your customers feel seen and understood.

    • A chatbot might answer FAQs, but it can’t match the warmth of a personal response when someone is nervous about their first spray tan.

5 Ways I Stay Authentic While Using AI

1. Let AI Handle the Boring Stuff, So You Can Focus on the Fun Stuff

I use AI for things like scheduling posts, brainstorming ideas, or creating quick templates—but the final touches always come from me.

How I Do It:
For Agent Historia, I’ll use AI to generate headline ideas for a blog or draft a rough outline. But when it comes to adding examples or the voice that feels truly mine? That’s all me. This way, AI does the heavy lifting, and I get to spend my energy on what really matters: crafting content that feels human.

2. Infuse Your Voice into Everything

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that your voice is your brand. My clients know when something sounds “off,” and trust me—they’ll let me know!

How I Do It:
With Dark & Devious, I’ve built a reputation for being cheeky and fun. When AI spits out a caption like, “Achieve the perfect glow with our spray tans,” I change it to something more me, like: “Our spray tans: the only thing faker than your ex’s apology.” It’s small tweaks like this that make a huge difference.

3. Show Your Face (Literally and Figuratively)

People want to know who they’re supporting. Whether it’s showing up on social media or sharing behind-the-scenes moments, being visible helps build trust.

How I Do It:
With Agent Historia, I often post snippets of my brainstorming process or client projects. For Dark & Devious, I’ve shared silly moments of me testing tanning solutions on myself (hello, streaky arms!) to show the real side of running a business. These unpolished moments resonate with my audience more than any perfectly curated post ever could.

4. Personally Respond to Your Community

AI chatbots are great for quick responses, but nothing beats the feeling of a personal reply.

How I Do It:
When someone asks about spray tans or branding tips, I make it a point to respond myself. For example, when a nervous client asked me if spray tans would turn them orange, I sent them a personalized message to ease their fears. That one little effort earned me a loyal customer who now recommends me to everyone.

5. Stick to Your Values, No Matter What

AI trends come and go, but your values should always stay the same. For me, it’s about honesty, creativity, and making my clients feel like they’re part of something special.

How I Do It:
With Agent Historia, I never take on projects that don’t align with my belief in authentic storytelling. And with Dark & Devious, I make sure every client feels confident and welcome, no matter their body type or experience level. Staying true to these values keeps my businesses grounded, even as the tech world changes around me.

How AI Can Actually Help You Stay Authentic

AI isn’t the enemy—it’s a tool. The key is knowing when and how to use it.

How I Leverage AI:

  1. Save Time:

    • AI handles my scheduling, analytics, and rough drafts, so I can focus on building relationships with my clients.

  2. Enhance Accessibility:

    • Chatbots and automated responses navigating to my website help me stay available 24/7 for basic questions, but I always step in for the more complex or emotional conversations.

  3. Generate Ideas:

    • When I feel stuck, AI helps me brainstorm captions or blog topics, which I then shape into something uniquely mine.

In an AI-driven world, staying authentic isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s your superpower. Your audience doesn’t just want a great product or service; they want to feel connected to you.

For me, balancing AI and authenticity has been a journey. Whether it’s crafting cheeky spray tan captions, creating branding strategies that feel like magic, or personally connecting with every client, I’ve found that being real is always the best strategy.

Are you ready to build a brand that’s as authentic as you are?

Follow Agent Historia for more tips, tools, and behind-the-scenes stories to help you connect with your audience—human to human.