What MLK’s Speech Can Teach Us About AI and Authenticity

Ever heard of Stanley Levison or Clarence Benjamin Jones?

They were some of the people two behind the early drafts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.

Jones was his attorney. Levison, a trusted advisor. King ultimately revised their drafts and made the message his own. The result? One of the most powerful, enduring speeches in human history.

Now imagine if LinkedIn / Facebook / X / Insta etc existed back then ...

“Ugh, MLK didn’t even write that by himself. Soooo cringe.”

Sounds ridiculous, right?

But that’s exactly how some people are treating the use of AI today.

If you’re using AI to draft, research, refine, and sharpen your message and owning the final version then you’re doing what great communicators have always done: collaborating, iterating, elevating.

Let’s stop equating slow old school manual effort with authenticity.

Real authenticity is about standing behind your message — whether you brainstormed it solo, worked with a team, or collaborated with a very clever algorithm.

AI isn’t cheating – it’s collaborating. It’s evolving. It’s progress.

The next time someone rolls their eyes at AI-assisted content, remind them: Dr King didn’t create his most famous speech in isolation. Great communicators never go it alone. They tap into tools, teams, and talent to elevate their message.

AI is just the newest member of that creative team.

Want to explore what AI can do for your organisation?

Join Julian Moore and other AI experts at the Association Leaders Retreat in Port Douglas, July 28–30. It’s shaping up to be a standout event (and yes, I’d suggest booking soon – accommodation’s going fast).

In the meantime, if you’d like some tailored advice or just want to dip a toe in the AI waters, get in touch with Julian Moore here at SMS. He’s brilliant at helping associations cut through the hype and unlock real value of AI.