In a surprise announcement, Pope Leo XIV has weighed in on the human vs. machine argument – and found the machines wanting. In his encyclical “Magnifica Humanitus,” the Pope wrote that “so called artificial intelligences do not undergo experiences, do not possess a body, do not feel joy or pain, do not mature through relationships and do not know from within what love, work, friendship, or responsibility mean.”
The Pope is saying that AI, for all its power and effectiveness, lacks one vital ingredient that a machine cannot replicate: empathy.
AI “learns,” but it doesn’t do so through experiences the way a human being can, and those experiences are essential to creating great content. Experiences form the basis of empathy. They help us understand the world and people around us, allowing us to become increasingly attuned to the thoughts and feelings of a broad spectrum of individuals.
That’s an incredibly important asset for content creators.
Our ability to empathize with others enables us to create content that speaks directly to people’s wants and needs without pandering. We can engage with them in meaningful ways, rather than flooding them with words that on the surface make sense but, in reality, are just that – surface.
It’s Called AI Slop for a Reason
Here’s what ChatGPT wrote after I asked it to create a paragraph about why human-generated content is so important right now:
In an era where artificial intelligence can generate articles, social posts, and marketing copy in seconds, human-created content has become more valuable—not less. Audiences are increasingly searching for authenticity, lived experience, and original insight that only real people can provide. While AI can efficiently summarize information or mimic tone, it cannot replicate human perspective, emotional nuance, critical judgment, or genuine storytelling. Readers connect with content that reflects empathy, creativity, and real-world understanding, especially in industries where trust and credibility matter.
It’s a solid summary. It’s also soulless, dull AI slop that will not generate enthusiasm or engagement with audiences sensitive to generic and impersonal messaging. While brands need more content than ever before, it only becomes good content when it’s developed in a way that combines efficiency with human judgment, empathy, and storytelling.
Human-Created Content is More Important than Ever
That’s where the REQ Narrative Studio comes into play. The Narrative Studio is composed of living experts who provide invaluable audience insights and editorial judgment, create compelling narrative structures, capture our clients’ unique tone, and spark emotional resonance. We certainly use AI to help us write more efficiently, but our actual writing processes are driven by people who understand our clients and their customers.
Even AI companies recognize the need for this type of approach. Both Anthropic and OpenAI are currently seeking human content writers and communicators to generate content that drives business. These companies know this is the best way to connect with the people buying their products.
That’s because people are inherently storytellers. We gossip, share anecdotes, write blogs, create articles, give advice, engage on social media, and more. It’s all part of the narrative process.
I’ve never heard of anyone calling ChatGPT, Claude, or any of the other models “storytellers.” Sure, they can technically create stories, and they’re invaluable at accelerating the content process.
But those stories probably won’t really mean too much to the person reading them. In the end, content that persuades, inspires, reassures, and builds trust still comes from the heart and mind of human beings.
