Scrolling through LinkedIn used to feel like an insightful walk through a genuine business community; a place where leaders shared their personal experiences, debated original ideas and spoke genuinely about the challenges that shaped them into the successful leaders they are today. Today, there’s something off about the space. We are seeing a rise in what many are calling ‘AI slop,’ which experts identify as content that mimics thought leadership at first glance but delivers little value once you read past the headline. This quickly leads to reputation risk.
Spearheading two national brands has shown me just how powerful new technology can be. AI has already reshaped the way we work, plan and communicate. But as it becomes woven into our everyday routines, I’m noticing a shift: efficiency is edging out authenticity. And I get it. For us busy executives and professionals, it’s tempting to let an algorithm smooth out your voice. But the truth is, your reputation is built on how you show up, not how polished your sentences look.
The issue with AI-polished voices
The defining feature of AI slop is their similarities. I’m sure we have all seen the overused ‘Here are five lessons I’ve learnt this quarter’ hook, and the overpolished leadership reflections that could have been written by anyone, anywhere. Though it might succeed in satisfying the algorithm’s preference for consistency and greater reach, they would have already failed the human test.
Authenticity isn’t about perfection. It’s about clarity, intent and lived experience. When a leader shares something that feels generic or recycled, people notice. And in an era of infinite scrolls, trust is the only thing that doesn’t scale. The moment your network feels they’re reading a prompt instead of a person, you lose not only their attention, but also your seat as a trusted leader they can rely on.
Cost of looking smart but saying nothing
The risk here is not only low engagement but also credibility.
Leadership requires original thought, sound judgement and the ability to communicate with nuances. When a professional profile becomes a stream of automated insights, it signals a step back from genuine leadership. There’s also a clear contradiction in using AI to talk about ‘human‑centric leadership.’ If you cannot articulate your own perspective, why should your team or clients invest in it?
AI slop creates what I call a ‘value vacuum.’ It fills space without adding anything meaningful. Over time, this leads to platform fatigue. People tune out, not because they’re disinterested, but because they’re exhausted from reading the same thing dressed up in different words.
Using AI without losing your voice
This is not a plea to abandon AI, in fact, we should utilise it strategically. At Kwik Kopy and PACK & SEND, we’ve always embraced innovation, and AI has become an incredible ally. It helps us research efficiently, organise our ideas and get through the intimidating blank page.But it is also meant to support your thinking, not replace it.
What I’ve learned is that the balance matters.
- Let AI take the edge off the heavy lifting. This includes the tidying, summarising and grammar checks; however, keep the heart of the message uniquely yours.
- Be specific. Talk about real situations you’ve faced, the challenges that are unique to your industry or your community. Those are the details AI cannot reinvent, and they are what interest people.
- Be vulnerable. AI can attempt to imitate it, but it cannot feel it. The moments where things did not go according to plan and the lessons learned the hard way. When you share them in your own words, people recognise the honesty. That’s how trust is built and where connection happens.
Leaders who stay human stand out
As AI‑generated content becomes the norm, an authentic human voice will only become more valuable. While everyone’s feed is filled with automated noise, the person who speaks clearly and honestly, even if imperfect, is the one people will hear.
Technology should help us move faster, but it shouldn’t flatten who we are. Our job as leaders is to steer the ship, not hand the wheel to an algorithm and hope no one notices we’ve stepped away. AI can amplify our thoughts and ideas, but it can’t replace the judgement, intent and authenticity that only humans can bring.
The leaders who understand and show up unapologetically as themselves are the ones people will keep choosing to follow.
Contributed by Sonia Shwabsky, President, Kwik Kopy Australia and PACK & SEND Australia.