— November 6th, 2025
On the eve of Halloween in 1938, millions of Americans tuned into what they thought was a normal radio program. Instead, they heard frantic reports of alien spacecraft invading New York.
People panicked; some even fled their homes. It was, of course, a performance of The War of the Worlds. But many listeners missed the disclaimer at the start and believed it was real.
Fast forward to today, and we’re facing a much scarier version of the same problem. Only this time, it’s not aliens causing confusion, it’s AI. We scroll past fake videos of lions eating snakes or politicians saying things they never said.
Some of us can spot the dodgy edits, but plenty can’t. Worse still, real footage is now dismissed as fake... a convenient “get out of jail free card” for anyone caught out.
In a world of distrust and AI-generated content, authentic stories are needed more than ever.
The Distrust Age
We’ve moved from the Information Age to the Distrust Age. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer, trust in governments, business, media and NGOs is either stagnating or in freefall.
People don’t just suspect they’re being misled... they assume it. Fear of misinformation is at record highs, and for the first time, even trust in employers has dropped globally.
When trust is this fragile, the old corporate playbook of slick slides, polished soundbites and carefully scripted messages simply doesn’t cut through. People are craving something different: real voices, raw honesty, and the sense that an actual human is speaking to them.
That’s where storytelling comes in.
Why Stories Work When Logic Doesn’t
If you’ve ever sat through a presentation stuffed with charts and bullet points, you’ll know how forgettable logic alone can be. Stories, on the other hand, stick.
Research shows we remember stories up to 13 times more than statistics. Why? Because stories don’t just inform us, they engage emotions, trigger trust hormones like oxytocin, and even synchronize our brain patterns with the storyteller’s.
And here’s the kicker: our decisions are driven more by emotion than logic. Regardless if we are buying a house, or a car, or buying into an organizational purpose, values or strategy. People buy on emotion and justify with logic. Which means if you’re trying to build trust, shift thinking or inspire action, you need more than facts... you need authentic stories.
AI: The Sidekick, Not the Supervillain
Now, some people see AI as the enemy of storytelling. “If machines can churn out stories, what’s the point of mine?” they ask. But here’s the thing... AI is not Batman. You are Batman. AI is Robin: helpful, eager, and sometimes surprising, but definitely the sidekick, not the hero.
Yes, AI can generate plausible stories. I’ve tested it, and sometimes the results are pretty good. But here’s the problem: they don’t feel real. They lack the rough edges, the quirks, the little details that signal, “This really happened.” That’s why authentic stories are more effective than AI-generated ones.
But to ignore AI entirely is a mistake. Used wisely, it can help us brainstorm story ideas, polish drafts, and sharpen our communication. It can save us time, spark creativity, and help us tell our stories smarter and faster. What it can’t do is replace the realness of your lived experiences.
The Superpower of Story Intelligence
This is where story intelligence comes in... the ability to skillfully use authentic storytelling to connect, engage, and inspire. It’s a human capability as vital as emotional intelligence. In a world of deepfakes and distrust, story intelligence becomes your superpower.
Here’s the simple truth: you can’t control the flood of AI-generated content and the fake stories, but you can control the stories you share. Stories that are real. Stories that are yours.
So, don’t retreat from AI, and don’t give up on trust. Instead, lean into what makes you human... your authentic stories. And let AI be the creative partner that helps you share them with more impact.
Because in the Distrust Age, the most powerful thing you can say is not the most polished or perfect thing. It’s the truest thing.
- Gabrielle Dolan is a bestselling author and speaker on Real Communication and Storytelling. Her new book Story Intelligence: The Craft of Authentic Storytelling Made Smarter with AI is released on December 1. To book Gabrielle for a workshop or keynote, go to www.gabrielledolan.com