How to spot AI generated content from a mile away
Whether you like it or not, AI’s here to stay.
In such a short space of time its already embedded itself deep in our content creation practices, and while it can be a great helper, sometimes it’s way too obvious when a robot’s been doing the typing.
You’ve probably read something at some point and thought, “Did a human even write this?”. That’s when you’re picking up on those tell-tale signs of AI-generated content.
Here’s the thing that most people forget: AI is only as good as the prompts and guidance it gets.
If you know how to ‘talk’ to your AI, you can produce some pretty solid content together. But if you let it run wild, your words will end up sounding robotic, generic, or just… off.
Knowing what gives AI content away means you can fix it before anyone else notices. With that in mind, here are five signs that scream “This was totally written by a robot”, and my tips to make your AI content sound more like… well, you.
Clichéd phrases that scream “Robot!”
The first giveaway? Those overused, tired phrases that feel like they’ve been ripped straight from the original AI playbook.
If your blog kicks off with “In today’s fast-paced world” or includes the phrase, “It’s time to take your business to the next level”, you’re definitely raising the flag that you’ve put your AI to work.
Without the correct instruction, you’re going to get it spitting out the same stock phrases, the same overused words, and everything you write is going to be about fostering dynamic content in the digital age.
How to fix it: Don’t just tell AI to avoid clichés - teach it your style.
Tell your AI a personal story, or a unique way you’d start a conversation on the topic you’re writing about. The more personality you give it upfront, the more likely it is to reflect that in the content it produces.
The overly stiff, formal vibe
Have you recently read something that feels like it’s trying way too hard to sound smart? That’s probably AI at work.
Without proper direction, AI tends to default to a stiff, overly formal tone - even when you’re writing something that would work better with a relaxed, conversational style.
If AI has no idea that you’re writing a blog that needs to sound approachable and friendly, it’ll default to cranking out content that feels more like a business proposal.
If your readers feel like they’re reading a legal document every time they come across you, you’re going to lose them (unless you’re a lawyer that is).
How to fix it: Don’t just expect AI to get your tone - tell it exactly what vibe you’re going for.
Tell the AI to write like you’re chatting with a friend over coffee. Give it specific instructions to match the tone you’re talking with, and don’t be afraid to include examples of how you naturally speak or write.
The more you define the style and tone you’re going for, the better chance you have of your AI delivering something that feels human and warm.
Repetition (yes, repetition)
AI loves to repeat itself more than a politician who’s trying to avoid giving a direct answer to a simple question.
You’ll often notice the same idea or phrase cropping up multiple times in your content. It’s like the AI forgets it already made the point and thinks, “oh, that’s worth a mention” (but three times over).
This isn’t just boring for your readers - it also makes your content feel clunky and unpolished.
How to fix it: Teach your AI to stop running in circles.
Be clear in your instructions that you don’t want repetition. You can prompt it to bring up fresh ideas after making a point, or ask it to introduce new examples instead of rehashing the same concepts over and over.
If you’re using AI to generate long-form content, you might even want to tell it to avoid mentioning specific phrases more than once at the get-go.
Awkward transitions that don’t make sense
You know that feeling when you're reading an article and the writer suddenly jumps from one subject to another totally unrelated subject with absolutely no warning? That’s classic AI.
It tends to struggle with smooth transitions, leaving your content feeling disjointed and hard to follow.
How to fix it: Give your AI guidance on flow.
When using AI, instruct it to make sure each idea naturally leads into the next. You can prompt it with phrases like, “Now that we’ve covered [topic], let’s move on to [next topic].”
Use your experience and expertise in your niche to teach your AI how to create logical connections between sections. This will help it to make your content flow better and keep your readers engaged.
No specifics or real-world examples
One of AI’s biggest downfalls? It stays on the surface.
AI-generated content often sticks to broad, generic statements and lacks the kind of specific, real-world examples that make writing feel grounded and relatable.
How to fix it: Feed your AI the details.
The best way to make AI-generated content sound human? Add the specifics yourself. Feed the AI personal stories, industry examples, or case studies to weave into the content.
AI works best when it has real-world context to work with, and your personal experience is the secret ingredient that makes the content truly stand out.
AI is a tool, not a replacement for your voice
At the end of the day, AI can be a game-changer when it comes to creating content for your business, but it’s not a replacement for you.
The secret to using AI successfully is making sure it’s working for you, not against you.
That means teaching it your style, guiding it with specific instructions, and putting the human touch on whatever it produces. Avoid clichés, smooth out transitions, and steer your AI with clarity - That way your content will sound authentic and engaging.
Remember, AI is a tool - one that can save you time and help with the heavy lifting, but it’s your voice, your quirks, and your unique insights that turn generic AI output into something real and impactful.
Next time you sit down to use AI, don’t be afraid to tell it exactly what you want (and what you don’t want).
And if you’re looking to get your AI-generated drafts polished to perfection, I’m here to help with my proofreading and editing services.
