Podcast Killed the AI Star
Or Why Human Voices Will Always Matter
Published on 20.01.2025 by Mateusz Sójka
For the longest time I have believed that podcasting, at its core, is about human connection. We bring people together through a single voice or a conversation, shared on-demand, asynchronously with listeners around the world.
Podcasts capture our essence—whether it’s humor, raw curiosity, or a passion for some obscure niche—and package it in a format that remains deeply personal.
Now that artificial intelligence is booming and reshaping so many digital fields, I often hear questions like, “Can AI replace human-driven podcasts?” “Is AI the death of podcasts?”
My answer is: not in a million years. Podcasts have such a unique resilience that AI just cannot replicate. Even if it becomes more intelligent than us, humans.
The Human Factor in the Digital World
Podcasts are fundamentally an extension of a person’s character, knowledge, and passion. When we listen to a podcaster, we pick up on nuances of their voice: a casual laugh, that subtle sigh of surprise, or the gentle excitement in the final words of a story, even the quirkiness of socially awkward hosts. These things can’t be reproduced by AI or LLMs.
That’s why successful podcasts—big or small—tend to capture the authentic personality of their hosts. An influencer’s vivid anecdotes or a lesser-known expert’s thoughtful monologue resonate not because they are meticulously optimized, but because their authenticity triggers our empathy and curiosity. It’s in our nature to crave real, human experiences. No matter how powerful AI becomes, it can’t substitute the intangible sense of “I trust this voice because I can feel the person behind it.”
AI as an Ally, Not an Overlord
It might sound ironic that I am highlighting the limitations of AI while being a huge believer in how much it can do for podcasting. At Podigee, we thrive on technology. We’ve always embraced new tools and methods that enhance the way people create and publish shows. But there is a big distinction between AI taking over the entire creative process and AI supporting the great creators out there.
For instance, we’re already seeing AI-driven tools that help with editing episodes in near real time, removing “um’s,” adjusting volume, and even suggesting cuts that improve the show’s pacing. Automatic transcripts can be generated so quickly now that podcasters can publish searchable text versions of their episodes almost instantly. Some hosts convert parts of their episodes into short video clips or social media posts using AI-driven software. It’s fascinating to see how quickly these tools lower the barrier to entry. You don’t need a massive production team if you have a well-chosen microphone and the right post-production solutions.
And finally, as AI keeps evolving, we can expect even more interesting possibilities: multi-language audio dubbing to reach new audiences, voice cloning for trailer snippets in different languages, or advanced analytics that point out where listeners tune in or drop off. All these tasks, however, remain in service of the human-led conversation at the heart of each show.
AI is the amplifier, not the star.
Production Becoming Cheaper, Faster, and Better
One of the greatest by-products of better AI tools is how they help reduce the cost of production. Professional editing that once demanded a specialized skillset and many hours of labor can now be automated. This doesn’t just save money—it saves time, too. Time that podcasters can reinvest in more research, better guest conversations, or simply honing their craft on the microphone.
Cheaper production also paves the way for new creative formats. I Imagine near real-time news pushed through a podcast feed, as production time gets shortened by orders of magnitude. Or daily dispatches with minimal editing overhead, allowing a level of immediacy previously unheard of in audio storytelling.
With “AI-as-assistant”, that’s totally possible. But the voice remains distinctly human, which is exactly what the audience wants.
Authenticity Is the Showstopper
When I look back at my own journey co-founding Podigee, I recall how we decided to make the process of podcasting as simple as possible—so that creators could focus on what actually matters: telling their stories. The best stories, at their core, come from real experiences and real people. We’re talking about a cook who shares her family’s best recipes, a travel enthusiast recounting near-disasters on the road, or an internal corporate team discussing how they run their day-to-day.
To be blunt, AI can help podcasters do more, faster. But it cannot replicate the intangible, nuanced, personality-driven dynamic that turns an ordinary podcast into a must-listen show. The mess-ups, the unscripted jokes, and the real time reactions are part of why the audience sticks around. Listeners develop a sense of loyalty and trust in the host—exactly because it’s not a perfectly curated or artificially engineered experience.
A Realistic Look Ahead
I often say that everything we do at Podigee is about making podcasting easier and more accessible, but never at the expense of what makes a podcast come alive: the voices of podcasters. While some creators will experiment with AI-generated content, the bulk of shows that form real bonds with audiences will spring from the heart and mind of a host with a perspective to share.
Yes, we can (and should) use AI to free up more time and energy for real conversations and deeper research. Yes, we can further reduce cost barriers, letting more new creators jump in. Yes, we can create advanced workflows so that a single voice can turn into multiple forms of media.
But none of these revolve around removing the human essence. Instead, they revolve around boosting it—giving creators the space to be more creative, personal, and spontaneous.
Final Thoughts
For all the talk of AI “taking over,” podcasting reminds us that it’s not about automation for automation’s sake. The best podcasts are fueled by an authentic spark—your stories. Tech innovations serve to magnify that spark, never to replace it.
As someone who has seen the podcasting landscape evolve from its modest beginnings to the global phenomenon it is today, I can say confidently: no matter how sophisticated AI becomes, your authentic voice still carries the show. Because in a world so rapidly remade by technology, people will always crave something real. And podcasts—real, human podcasts—deliver exactly that.
Are you interested in starting a podcast yourself? Feel free to try out Podigee 14 days for free.