For anyone aspiring to have a professional media career, CBS Sunday Morning should be required viewing for the study of its content and presentation.  Each segment host and story producer clearly has their own style of how to get the job done, and none of them are the same. The style that works for one air talent, may not work at all for another. For future air talent, simply viewing and noticing the differences of each reporting style is a broadcast and editing lesson in itself.

CBS Sunday Morning recently aired a feature on artificial intelligence becoming a major disruptor in the job market, that focused on everything from AI affecting those looking for jobs, to the possible elimination of entire job sectors.

The final scene of the piece was perfectly placed. One of the subjects of the report, a young woman looking for a job in writing and production, was asked “Let me hear your pitch. Why would you be better than AI doing your job?” She responded, after a long pause and some thought: “Okay…uh…I’m a person and not a robot,” which was followed by an end of segment still-shot.   

I immediately felt empty and awful for the young professional. She was put on the spot, on what she knew would be national TV, but didn’t seem to have the in-depth answer that the question begged for. She didn’t seem prepared for the moment.  (And I do keep in mind, that if she did offer a more in-depth, longer answer, it was a bad job by the production team to edit it out.)  So, edited or not, what is my point about her answer?

No employer is going to choose you over a robot simply because you are a person. They will choose you because of what YOU AS A PERSON ARE CAPABLE OF THAT DIFFERENTIATES YOURSELF FROM A ROBOT. I remarked to my wife that the final answer was a bad look for the candidate looking for a job, and my wife responded “What would you have said?” My instant answer was “Because I have a pulse and a heartbeat and emotion that helps me sense and feel what customers, viewers and listeners want, better than a robot. Hire me and you will see why.” Now that’s an answer that will continue the conversation.

I will admit that having 30+ more years’ experience than the candidate in the segment, being in my living room, and not being under the pressure of being on camera does make it easier to come up with a fuller, better answer to the question of why a human can be better than AI. And THAT’S the point. If you are looking for a job, or looking to protect your current job from AI disruption, have your reasoning ready to explain to your (prospective) boss in a factual concise way. Simply saying “I’m a human” won’t cut it. Tell the story of what YOU AS A PERSON CAN DO, and separate yourself from the AI robot.

Prepare your spiel. Practice it over and over in your living room, in the shower, or anywhere you can think or sound it out. That way, when the camera is on, and the moment is present, you won’t start with a “Uh…let me think” pause. Not every situation will call for the same prepared answer. But have your basis…your verbal paragraph…ready to go, and you will be far ahead of the candidate who responds “Because I’m a person.”