Tue, March 11, 2025

Beyond AI: Why Voice Matters

By Ashleigh Bell Pedersen

Nearly a year ago, a robot named Sophia went viral for her D’Youville University commencement speech, in which she offered students a slew of generic advice: “pursue your passions,” “believe in yourself,” and “foster meaningful connections.” Delivered in her flat affect and without lived experience to draw on, however, Sophia’s words sounded tinny and hollow—like tokens falling through the coin slot of some half-functioning arcade game. The flurry of media coverage faded quickly, but Sophia’s speech can still offer us critical insight into the cost of allowing AI technology to replace the human voice. 

As a writing coach, I often stress to young people the importance of voice. In personal narrative writing specifically, voice includes the details and meaning we make of our lived experiences. Such writing is critical for high school and college admissions essays, but—even more crucially—also offers teens increased self-understanding and meaning-making amid the storm of social, academic, and cultural pressures. In this 2018 report, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation defines “having voice” as a critical component to adolescent wellness; Dr. Annie Brewster, co-author of The Healing Power of Storytelling, explains in a 2022 Harvard Medicine interview that narrative writing helps us “control the meaning we make” of negative experiences—positively impacting our wellbeing.

Yet classroom learning tends to prioritize traditional (and infamously dry) academic writing over voice-driven writing. With the pressure of both grades and school admissions, it’s understandable that for many young people, the convenience of AI technology is a tempting alternative to the more challenging (and vulnerable) path of self-expression. As we can easily see in Sophia’s speech and its broader reception last year, however, such a replacement offers little opportunity for connection with ourselves or, by extension, with others. 

How can we encourage young people to express their voice with originality and authenticity? To use AI technology with discernment, not as replacement? The task can feel daunting, but small steps can go a long way. We can offer brief journaling prompts for younger kids; enroll pre-teens and teens in writing classes, clubs, and workshops; sign them up to work with tutors or writing coaches specifically to explore voice-driven writing; and encourage their exploration of various forms of art—all of which employ “voice” in various iterations and evoke both meaning and connection. Such practice also goes a long way on eventual high school and college admissions essays.

As adults, we can also model using our own voice by speaking with authenticity, by sharing stories from our lives and offering sincere personal reflection. We can ask young people specific questions about their lives, ideas, and dreams—and if they’re willing to answer, listen carefully to their voice in response.

As a powerful contrast to Sophia’s speech, I’m reminded of the writer George Saunders’ 2013 convocation speech at Syracuse University, which offers a vibrant example of voice at its most impactful. Saunders shares a personal anecdote from middle school about a girl named Ellen who “wore these blue cat’s-eye glasses that, at the time, only old ladies wore” and had the unfortunate habit of “taking a strand of hair into her mouth and chewing on it.” He confesses to teasing Ellen, and reflects on his ongoing regret at such “failures of kindness.” His message for the graduating class was simple but powerful: “Try to be kinder.” Saunders reminds us of what Sophia’s speech sorely lacked: personal details and reflection, the kind that connect and inspire. 

His speech also went viral, by the way—not for its spectacle, but for its humanity. 

Ashleigh Bell Pedersen offers writing coaching for pre-teens and teens at Write Well Brooklyn and is the author of the novel The Crocodile Bride, a New York Times Editors’ Choice. She holds almost 20 years of experience in education, and loves creating meaningful learning experiences for young people.