Are People Becoming Disengaged When They Think Something Is Written by AI?
Has anyone else noticed this with their own students? I have!
Learners are becoming increasingly quick to discount or disengage from content the moment they suspect it’s been created by AI. What’s interesting is that this reaction can happen even when the content wasn’t generated by AI at all. Sometimes the resources clearly predate AI.
What the Research Is Starting to Show
Research is beginning to confirm what many educators are noticing in practice.
The concept of the ‘Algorithm Discount’ suggests that people devalue digital products when they are identified as AI-generated. This content is often perceived as having lower worth because consumers believe it lacks the ‘love,’ ‘passion,’ and ‘intentionality’ that a human creator inherently provides (Rix, J., Berger, B., Hess, T., & Rzepka, C., 2025). This aligns with more research known as the ‘Machine Heuristic’, which suggests that when students see a course they suspect is AI-only, they assume no effort was involved and therefore conclude it isn’t valuable or trustworthy (Wu, Y., Wang, Y., & Chuan, C.-H., 2025).
This raises an important question for anyone creating courses, training, or educational content:
Are we unintentionally losing engagement because our content feels impersonal?
The Perception Problem
We’re in a moment where AI tools are everywhere. While they bring incredible efficiency, they’ve also created a new kind of learner scepticism.
When content feels:
• overly polished
• generic
• lacking personality
it can trigger a kind of disengagement. Learners may assume:
“This wasn’t human-created.”
Human vs AI: What’s the Difference?
To understand this better, it helps to look at what humans bring to learning that AI simply can’t replicate in the same way.
What Humans Bring
• Creativity – original ideas, unique perspectives
• Critical thinking – questioning, analysing, challenging ideas
• Emotional intelligence – understanding learners’ needs and struggles
• Adaptability – adjusting based on context and feedback
What AI Does Well
• Speed – generating content quickly
• Efficiency – handling repetitive tasks
• Accuracy – especially with structure and patterns
AI is a powerful tool, but it lacks lived experience, personal insight, and deep critical thinking skills. And learners can see and feel the difference.
Why This Matters for Course Creators
If learners perceive your content as “AI-generated,” they may:
• engage less
• question its value
• skim read to get through the content quickly
The goal isn’t to avoid AI completely. It’s to ensure your content still feels human, intentional, and authentic.
How to Make Your Course Feel Human-Created
Here are some simple ways to make your content feel human-created:
1. Include Real Photos
Use authentic images of yourself, your workspace, or real-life examples. This builds trust and presence.
2. Facilitate Real Interaction
Utilise the discussion posts feature in your LMS. Add in reflection prompts that encourage learners to share their own experiences, knowing that they are talking to real people.
3. Share Your Story
Include a bio and show who you are. Discuss why you wrote the course and what it means to you.
4. Use Your Voice
Write (or edit) in a way that sounds like you. Natural language, personal insights, even small imperfections can make content feel more real.
5. Add Opinions and Perspective
AI draws from many sources on the internet and therefore tends to sit in the middle. Show you are human by sharing your own perspectives.
6. Design for Thinking, Not Just Consuming
Include activities that require:
• reflection
• decision-making
• application
This reinforces that learning is an active, human process—not passive content consumption.
Want to know more – research the learning theory called Constructivism.
Where AI Does Belong
AI absolutely has a place in course creation.
It can be incredibly useful for:
• checking grammar and clarity
• refining structure
• brainstorming ideas
But it should support your thinking – not replace it.
Because the real value of your course isn’t just the information – it’s you!!!
Your insights. Your experience. Your connection to your learners.
Final Thought
AI has its place in course creation, but don’t let it dim your sparkle! You have the knowledge your learners want and need. Be yourself, make those genuine connections, and your content will naturally be more engaging. And yes, I did get AI to proofread this blog 😊
References
Rix, J., Berger, B., Hess, T., & Rzepka, C. (2025). The Algorithm Discount: Explaining Consumers’ Valuation of Human- versus Algorithm-Created Digital Products. Journal of Management Information Systems, 42(2), 633–668. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2025.2487308
Wu, Y., Wang, Y., & Chuan, C.-H. (2025). Machine heuristic in algorithm aversion: Perceived creativity and effort of output created by or with artificial intelligence. Computers in Human Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbah.2025.100190