Rise of the Content Borg: How to Compete as a Human in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is no longer a novelty in digital marketing — it’s the standard. From search relevance to customer engagement, AI now powers the backbone of digital visibility. In fact, AI agents are already being used to handle customer support interactions on both ends — yes, sometimes it’s literally AI arguing with AI. While this creates undeniable time savings and operational efficiencies, it raises a critical question:

Where can humans still win when the front lines of digital competition are increasingly automated? The answer lies in embracing what I call “content cyborgs” — a hybrid of human creativity and machine precision.

From Sci-Fi to Strategy: The Origin of the Cyborg

If you’ve never watched Star Trek or dug into classic sci-fi, you may not know that the term cyborg dates back to 1960. It was coined by scientist Manfred E. Clynes and psychiatrist Nathan S. Kline in their paper Cyborgs and Space. They introduced the idea of technologically enhanced humans capable of surviving extreme environments, such as outer space, through self-regulating systems. Fast forward to today: the “environment” we must adapt to isn’t interstellar, but algorithmic. The principle remains the same — technological augmentation gives us a survival edge.

AI Adoption Is Now the Norm

Let’s be clear: humans alone cannot deliver content at the speed or volume of AI. Across global business, AI adoption is mainstream and expanding rapidly.

• 78% of organizations report using AI in at least one business function, up from 72% in 2024, according to McKinsey’s 2025 Global AI Survey. The most common areas? IT, marketing and sales, and customer service.

• Public sentiment backs this trajectory. Gallup’s 2025 study on American Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence found that 55% of Americans believe AI is “very important” to the nation’s future in the next decade, with another 30% calling it “somewhat important.” Among frequent AI users, that figure jumps to 70%.

These numbers confirm what marketers already feel: ignoring AI is no longer an option.

Debunking the “AI Kills Your Brain” Myth

Social media buzz often warns that AI-generated content harms cognition. These claims typically reference a small MIT study on essay writing with just 54 participants. The research found that participants who used ChatGPT showed lower EEG connectivity (a proxy for brain engagement) than those writing without AI assistance.

But here’s the key: the study was preliminary and doesn’t prove that AI stifles long-term cognitive ability. Instead, it highlights what we already know — AI is best used as a support tool, not a replacement for thinking.

Cyborg Content: Blending Machine Speed With Human Spark

The future of content isn’t AI-only or human-only — it’s cyborg content. AI can draft, optimize, and scale, but humans must guide, refine, and inject authenticity.

The real competitive edge lies in prompt engineering and editorial oversight. A well-crafted prompt and a thoughtful human editor can transform generic AI output into engaging, authentic storytelling that resonates with audiences.

A Quick Checklist for Human-Led Prompting

Want to ensure your content keeps its human spark while benefiting from AI’s optimization? Start here:

✅ Ask “why” before “what.” Define the purpose of your content before you prompt.

✅ Include emotion cues. Tell AI the tone or feeling you want to convey.

✅ Layer in lived experience. Add personal anecdotes or brand-specific insights AI can’t generate.

✅ Edit for voice. Use your brand’s unique phrasing, humor, or perspective.

✅ Fact-check everything. Treat AI output as a draft, not a final product.

Final Thought: Humans Still Lead (Yay)

In the age of AI, humans don’t lose relevance — we gain new leverage. The “content borg” may dominate speed and scale, but only humans can create trust, curiosity, and connection. By embracing our cyborg identity, we can thrive in an algorithm-driven world without sacrificing authenticity.

*Note: This blog post was written completely by a human, then restructured and edited for grammar and brevity using ChatGPT. Interested in reading the 100% human version to see the difference? Click here.

BONUS: Puppy photo. Nothing beats the real thing. We hope you love your life as much as Alexis Rose loves her tennis ball.

Sources

• McKinsey & Company. The State of AI in 2025: Adoption Surges Across Functions. September 2025.

• Gallup. American Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence. June 2025.

• Clynes, M. E., & Kline, N. S. (1960). Cyborgs and Space. Astronautics.

• Singh, A., et al. (2023). The Effects of AI Assistance on Human Cognitive Effort: An EEG Study. MIT Sloan School of Management.