Machines are getting scary good at sounding human.

Thanks to AI computers like ChatGPT, algorithms can now spit out convincing essays, clever headlines, decent jokes, and even empathetic replies. And while it’s easy to marvel at the progress—because let’s be honest, it’s impressive—many of us are left asking a bigger question: How can we still tell what’s written by a real person and what’s not?

The answer, thankfully, is still pretty clear—if you know where to look. Because while AI is quick, articulate, and increasingly stylish, it often lacks the thing that makes human communication so… well, human. That hard-to-pin-down blend of emotion, experience, imperfection, and intuition. AI is excellent at imitation.

But being human? That’s still our domain. Here’s how to spot the difference.

1. Humans feel. AI simulates.

A big giveaway? Emotional expression. Human writing is drenched in feeling. We rant, rave, mourn, rejoice. We meander when we’re confused. We get excited and use too many exclamation points!! We contradict ourselves sometimes. And we aren’t afraid to dig deep—into fear, shame, love, longing, or regret.

AI, on the other hand, has no actual emotions. It replicates them, often in a sanitized or formulaic way. You might read something that sounds supportive, but if it feels oddly robotic or overly balanced—like it’s trying not to offend anyone—it might just be a machine playing nice.

Test: Ask yourself, “Does this feel like a person telling me something they’ve lived?” If not, it’s likely AI—or at least edited to the point of personality loss.

2. Humans interpret. AI summarizes.

Another major clue? The way meaning is handled. Humans bring subjective interpretation to everything. We layer our opinions. We read between the lines. We don’t just repeat facts—we wrestle with them, challenge them, laugh at them, or reframe them entirely. A good human writer connects the dots in ways you didn’t expect.

AI tends to summarize. Even when answering opinion-based questions, it often leans toward the safe middle, hedging bets, avoiding bold claims. It’s more comfortable giving overviews than insights.

Hint: If the writing feels more like a Wikipedia digest than a perspective, it might be machine-made.

3. Humans remember. AI fails nuance and continuity.

Real people add context and memories like seasoning. We pull in examples from culture, history, childhood, heartbreak, or last Tuesday’s pointless meeting. We cite personal stories. We know what happened before the thing we’re describing and what might happen after.

AI? Not so much. Its answers are often timeless, de-personalized, and stuck in the present. It often lacks memory and continuity. It repeats topics, forgets past details, and lacks narrative progression. It doesn’t know what you just said five minutes ago, and it certainly doesn’t know your inside jokes, regional quirks, or unique point of view.

4. Humans make mistakes. AI plays it safe.

Ironically, our errors are one of our best tells. Humans are highly prone to typos, bad diction, overuse of em dashes (ahem), and often mix metaphors. But that imperfection and creative risk can also add charm and endearment.

AI rarely makes spelling errors or grammar goofs. Instead, its “mistakes” are often about tone or awkward phrasing—like calling everything “delightful” or “robust,” or repeating itself to pad word count. It’s like talking to someone who’s read every book but never lived a single day.

Watch for: Generic phrasing, overused transitions (“In conclusion,” “On the other hand”), or repetition with zero new insight.

5. Humans create. AI imitates.

This is the big one. The whole enchilada.

AI can remix, rearrange, and repackage existing ideas with shocking fluency. But it struggles to originate something truly new. Something that surprises you. Something that breaks format or invents language or delivers a punchline that only makes sense in one specific moment.

Humans, especially curious and creative ones, do this naturally. We don’t just use language—we play with it. We invent slang. We crack inside jokes. We write with voice, rhythm, and soul. Even when AI gets close, it often feels… soulless. Bottom line: Originality is still our competitive advantage.

Look: AI isn’t going anywhere. It’s here to stay. It’s already helping us write faster, work smarter, and brainstorm better. And in many cases, it’s a phenomenal co-pilot.

But when it comes to storytelling with depth, persuasion with empathy, or meaning with nuance, humans still dominate. Good for us!

See also: 

• Forced writing is bad writing. Only write what yo know for sure.
• The problem with academic writing: The teacher must seize the student’s attention”