#298: Spotting & Resolving Generative AI Pitfalls for Communicators - Joel Schwartzberg

[31:42] Generative AI can help you work faster and sharpen your message, but only if you stay in control. In this episode, Greg Gazin speaks with Joel Schwartzberg about how to spot and resolve common AI pitfalls so your communication remains clear, credible, and authentic.

Joel approaches AI as a tool—useful, but not a replacement for decision-making. It can improve clarity and efficiency, but it doesn’t understand your priorities, your audience, or your voice. AI is a powerful assistant, but a poor decision-maker without human guidance.

For Toastmasters, that distinction matters. Whether you are preparing a speech or refining an idea, AI can produce something polished that still misses the point. The value comes when you use AI to improve your thinking and not replace it.

Joel’s article, 7 Generative AI Pitfalls for Communicators; How to spot and resolve these blind spots before they cost you clarity and trust, appears in the March 2026 issue of the Toastmasters Magazine. 

Listeners will hear…

• Why using AI does not make you a fraud as a communicator

• How AI can improve your writing when used properly

• How to spot and resolve common AI “Achilles heels”

• Why authenticity flaws matter—and how to sound like yourself

• How AI misplaces priorities and what to do about it

• Why running your content through AI is like using a pasta maker

AI can help you communicate more clearly and efficiently.

But the message is still yours to shape. Your voice and experience are what make it connect.

Joel will also be presenting at the Toastmasters International Convention in Vancouver, Canada, on Friday, August 21 at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, sharing insights on clear, focused communication.

You may also enjoy his previous appearance:

Stop Talking, Start Connecting: The Cure for Overspeaking (Episode #268)

About Joel Schwartzberg

Joel Schwartzberg, a long-time communications coach, a speechwriter, and the author of Get to the Point! Simplify, Sharpen, and Sell Your Message. And The Language of Leadership: How to Engage and Inspire Your Team.\

He’s a former U.S. national and state champion in collegiate public speaking, and was inducted into the National Forensic Association Hall of Fame in 2002.

Joel’s insights on effective communication have been featured in many publications, including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, CNBC, Newsweek, and Inc.com, as well as the Toastmaster magazine.

Joel Schwartzberg lives in New Jersey and can be reached at: www.joelschwartzberg.net.