Building Trust in the Age of Generative AI: What Small Businesses Need to Know

Have you ever found yourself scrolling Instagram, watching a video, and then realizing it was actually an ad? I know I have and every time, I feel tricked and frustrated, especially when the ad wasn’t properly disclosed. That feeling of being misled is exactly what I want to talk about in this episode, because it ties directly into the topic of trust. Lately, I’ve noticed small businesses making choices, especially around using generative AI that could be eroding the trust they’ve worked so hard to build. I’m not here to tell you never to use AI, but I do want to share why I think we all need to be extra careful and transparent about how we use it. Trust takes years to build and can be lost in an instant, and in this episode, I’m sharing my thoughts, experiences, and advice on how small businesses can protect that trust in the age of AI. Key Takeaways *Trust is Fragile and Hard-Won - Building trust with your audience takes years, but it can be lost overnight through missteps, especially with misleading or undisclosed AI-generated content. *The "Trust Recession" and AI Skepticism - Audiences are more wary than ever, often approaching online content with skepticism due to the prevalence of generative AI and undisclosed ads. *Transparency is Essential - Clearly disclosing the use of AI in your content is crucial. Burying disclosures or surprising your audience with AI-generated material can break trust. *Audience Expectations Matter - If your brand is open about using AI, your audience is less likely to feel deceived. Problems arise when AI use is unexpected or hidden. *DIY Over AI for Small Businesses - Audiences often prefer authentic, even imperfect, DIY content over slick but impersonal AI-generated work. The risk to brand trust may outweigh the convenience of generative AI. Episode Highlights 00:05 – Introduction: The Annoyance of Undisclosed Ads 00:29 – Why Trust Matters for Small Businesses 02:20 – The "Trust Recession" and AI’s Impact on Perception 03:30 – How Generative AI Can Break Trust 05:18 – Ethical Concerns and Audience Reactions to AI 10:35 – Repairing Trust and Planning AI Use in Your Brand I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know in the comments or come find me on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me