I had a terrible experience with Microsoft customer support recently.
I was stuck on the phone with some AI that didn’t understand a single thing I was actually trying to say. It was a whole mess.
Look, it’s 2026, and the AI backlash is already underway and growing.
But I think that’s actually an opportunity, especially for small businesses. I dive into that in my latest short video, which you can check out here ⤵️
Here’s how: you can lead with your voice.
While everyone else is pumping out AI slop that all:
- sounds the same
- follows the same trends
- and reads like it came out of the same machine (because it did)
…you get to stand apart by being a real human.
This matters more than people realize. There are reports coming out now that Gen Z is going to be the generation to reject AI.
Remember, AI interrupted their school lives, their parents are probably throwing it at them constantly. Of course they’re over it.
That’s important for you to know as they enter the market as consumers. Expect that rejection to grow.
Here’s what I’m encouraging small businesses to do:
1. Know your voice
What makes your business sound like you?
2. Keep humans in the marketing
Anything that interacts with a real person, like emails, calls, social replies, and support, should sound like a real person.
3. Use AI where it actually helps
Improving your product, speeding up your automations, doing the tedious backend work. That’s where I’ve been leveraging AI in my work.
I truly believe that we need to preserve this human-to-human connection. It’s also an opportunity to stand out from the big guys.
Want to improve and protect your business’s voice? Let’s talk!
Key Takeaways
- AI backlash is building, especially with Gen Z entering the market.
- Small businesses win by sounding human instead of generic.
- Use AI only where it actually helps your processes.
- Keep anything customer-facing real and personal. Human connection matters.
