AI Video Generators vs Real You: Why Authenticity Still Wins
Aug 29, 2025AI video generators are popping up everywhere, promising instant content with zero effort. But before you trust them with your message, it’s worth asking: do they really deliver what your audience needs? In this blog, we’ll unpack why authenticity still outshines automation, and why showing up as the real you on video creates stronger business outcomes than any AI presenter.
The Allure and the Reality of AI Video Generators
The appeal of AI video generators is obvious: fast content creation without cameras, lights, or stress. On paper, it sounds like the ultimate shortcut. But in practice, the results often fall short. Quality is inconsistent, delivery feels robotic, and the connection your audience craves just isn’t there. What looks like a time-saver quickly turns into endless tweaking, rendering, and disappointment.
Why Authentic Video Builds More Trust
Business growth depends on trust, and trust comes from human connection. When people see the real you — your tone, expressions, and personality — they relate to you in a way no AI generator can replicate. Authentic video communicates clarity, builds credibility, and leaves a lasting impression. If building that presence feels daunting, practical on-camera training can help you appear natural and confident while keeping your message sharp.
How to Win With Simplicity
Instead of sinking hours into testing AI platforms, focus on what works now. A smartphone or a desktop studio setup lets you create five to ten usable videos in less than an hour. No clunky workflows. No wasted resources. Just fast, repeatable video creation that strengthens your brand. Many business owners find that a desktop studio setup simplifies their workflow and makes regular content creation much easier to maintain.
AI video generators may improve over time, but right now, they can’t replace authenticity. Your audience values connection over perfection, and the fastest way to build trust is to show up as yourself. If you want consistency without overcomplicating things, structured video coaching is often the simplest way to keep your workflow on track and your content authentic.
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Video Transcription:
Chris Schwager: Every time I open up my bloody social media these days, there's another AI video generator or more people talking about AI video generated videos. And they're everywhere right now. And the promise, endless videos at lightning speed, no cameras and no stress, right? But in my experience, it's just not that simple.
Chris Schwager: I don't see any evidence yet that they deliver authenticity at a reasonable cost, speed or quality. Okay. Just listen to that. End speed cost quality. Right? And when I look back on other revolutionary tech that I've seen come and go over the years, it makes me wonder whether AI video generators are just another.
Chris Schwager: Hi, I'm Chris Schwager, video coach and founder of the Complete Video Success System, and I've spent decades helping professionals create high impact videos that build trust, generate leads, and drive business success. And if you've ever felt unsure or under prepared or just plain awkward with video, this is for you.
Chris Schwager: I'll give you the mindset and strategies to take control, build video confidence so that you show up like a pro. It's time to make your videos work for you. I'm not saying no — let me be clear. I'm not saying no. Tomorrow there could be the new thing, the new AI video generator of ChatGPT, right? And away we go.
Chris Schwager: But this is my opinion and it's built on my experience and the conversations that I've had with clients. Yesterday, for example, I spoke with a student who wanted to use AI video generators to transfer text from an LMS into video. The idea was to make it more engaging by having an AI video presenter reading it out, and now straightforward on paper.
Chris Schwager: But here's the problem: what you get the other side is still substandard. It doesn't communicate clearly. It doesn't really add much more than just the text itself. It will increase the speed and it will be useful for those that like to listen and like that facial engagement, even though it's from a robot, it may actually give a slight improvement. And here's the bigger question. What's that cost of all that time, resourcing, and money that you're investing in there? I say it could be a waste, but then we don't know that. We've got to just keep our eye on it. My goal with all my students and anyone in our membership is that I don't want you spending time going down a rabbit hole you shouldn't go down.
Chris Schwager: I want you to invest your time in your business and just use video as the vehicle to increase lead flow and increase awareness, increase visibility. I want all that for you. I just don't want you going down and like me clicking on a TikTok ad of the latest, greatest AI video generator and then spending hours, wasting time, ultimately testing it for them.
Chris Schwager: There are so many on the market. And we're the guinea pigs. We're the guinea pigs to ascertain whether it's actually a feasible thing, whether it's actually going to be useful in the long term. So I haven't seen the evidence yet that AI video generators can deliver authenticity at the right cost, in the right time, with the right level of quality. You've still got to spend time learning the platform, scripting the content, testing, rendering, and tweaking. And it's work. If the final product doesn't connect with your audience, then what's the point? Again, as I said earlier, you are the guinea pig.
Chris Schwager: This isn't about me trying to pull you away from new tech. It's quite the opposite. AI video generators should exist to make life easier and faster. That's the whole point. And if you look at ChatGPT, it solves a universal crisis. People suck at writing text — whether it's SMS, emails, blogs, articles, we are typically pretty bad with it. And so for that reason, ChatGPT is an absolute game changer.
Chris Schwager: But when it comes to AI video generators, until they genuinely do have that epic scale of, say, ChatGPT, I'd say let somebody else do the testing. I've been around long enough to see plenty of video tech come and go — 3D video, 360 video, virtual reality, augmented reality. Each one of these was supposed to change the game, and yet for most businesses, they just didn't take. And why? Because the workflow was too hard. It was overwhelming. It's not scalable and not sellable. And that's what I'm seeing again and again with these AI video generators right now. They're clunky. They're not there yet. Until the workflow is simple, until its output is truly authentic, I just don't believe they'll become mainstream.
Chris Schwager: Now, given you my feedback on that, compare it with something as simple as turning on your camera. Either in the desktop studio or switching on your smartphone. No endless tweaking. No resourcing. No black holes. No quality risk. Just turn on record and in one hour you've got five to ten usable videos. Real you, real connection, real speed.
Chris Schwager: So here's my assumption. If you are running a business and you've got limited time and energy, don't waste time trying to be a beta tester for AI video generators. Focus on what works now. Show up, shoot your video, get on with your day. So that's it for my opinion. It is a belief, shaped by years of seeing new tech crash and burn and the conversations I'm having right now. AI video generators might revolutionize video tomorrow — who knows? But until they truly make things faster and easier, simplicity still wins.
Chris Schwager: Thanks for listening to the Video Confidence Collective Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribe to us on YouTube so you never miss an episode. For more resources, check out the show notes and follow me at Chris Schwager or Ridge Films and see you on the next episode.
