AI can do a lot. It gives people real-time access, helps researchers in medicine, supports rescue teams, and makes communication easier across languages. For speed, reach, and efficiency, it works.
But when we use AI in creative work, like storytelling, performance, or communication, the question shifts. It’s how far we can go, sure. It’s also what we’re bringing with us, and what it costs to the experience.
AI Isn’t Just a Cost-Cutter. It’s an Amplifier.
I’ve been glad to see people push back on the idea that AI is just about cutting jobs. That story is narrow. A better way to see it: AI is a tool that can extend what people already do well.
In accessibility, that’s already happening with real-time captioning, sign language recognition, and image description, all which makes content more inclusive. That’s a win.
But when we talk about storytelling, especially something like audio description in entertainment visual media, there’s more going on.
It’s not just about what you say. It’s how it feels. Tone, timing, and emotional rhythm still come from human choices. The messy, slower, more human parts of the work. Those moments of connection? They’re hard to automate.
Screenwriting, Audio Description, and the Limits of “Good Enough”
A recent study looked at new screenwriters in China using AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney. They used them to brainstorm characters and ideas. But for dialogue and emotional weight, they turned back to craft. They saw the limits.
For less experienced writers, AI helps hit “good enough” faster. For skilled storytellers, it amplifies what’s already there. It helps them work faster, explore more, and take creative risks. But it doesn’t replace taste, structure, or emotional intelligence.
And that’s what we’re seeing: AI increases output, but the real value is shifting. While who can create more seems to be the race, maybe it’s who can shape what matters.
Good Enough Isn’t the Goal
Scale can blur priorities. When AI makes it easy to do more, fast, it’s tempting to lower the bar. But the best storytelling whether it’s a script, an ad, or audio description (AD), it’s not simply information. It’s empathy. Timing.
Care.
The space between “good enough” and “great” is getting wider. That’s where the human side becomes essential.
As we improve access, we can also make sure the experience feels meaningful.
Scale Isn’t the Problem. But It’s Not the Purpose, Either.
AI is a mirror. It reflects whatever we feed it. If we lead with thoughtfulness, ethics, and creative intention, it can support great work. If we focus only on cost or speed, we risk scaling empty content.
So the real questions are:
- What kind of experiences do we want to create?
- Are we using AI to connect more deeply, or just more often?
- And are we keeping space for the slower, more human parts that make the work matter?
AI will get better at sounding human. But that’s not the same as being human. And that difference, between a good impression and a real experience, is where creative professionals still lead.
Why It Still Matters
AI is changing how we work, think, and create. But for those of us in storytelling and communication, the job is still the same: make decisions that matter.
The challenge now? To make those decisions with more clarity, and to use AI not to replace what we do, but to remember why we do it.
Want more on how human nuance shapes performance in audio description?
Check out my book A Voice Actor’s Guide to Audio Description Performance at roysamuelson.com/book.