How We Use AI to Create Micro Empires Content

Weekly #128 | AI Does the Heavy Lifting, Humans Steer the Ship

At Micro Empires, we’ve learned to harness AI as a powerful ally in our content creation efforts. But this isn’t about “the machines” taking over. We simply focus on combining efficiency with creativity, all while keeping our distinct voice intact.

Here’s how we do it:

1 — Custom GPT Built for MicroEmpires

We’ve created a custom GPT trained on our entire library of Micro Empires articles. This means when we’re crafting newsletters or social media posts, the AI can pull relevant insights directly from our archives. It doesn’t just mimic our voice—it understands our tone, our style, and the essence of MicroEmpires.

This tool allows anyone on our team to step in and create content with ease. The focus then shifts to brainstorming strong ideas and concepts. Once we have a solid direction, the custom GPT takes care of the heavy lifting, streamlining our workflow.

2 — Humans in the Loop (HITL)

While AI is a fantastic starting point, human oversight is still needed. We’ve found that reading content aloud is one of the best ways to catch errors or refine phrasing. Patterns in AI-generated text, like overly formal phrasing (“in the grand scheme of things”) or unnatural sentence structures, can stick out—and that’s where human intuition comes in. But it needs to be developed.

The goal? Use AI as a tool, not a replacement. It’s about collaboration, not automation.

3 — Our Process in Action

After generating content with our custom GPT, we refine it. Sometimes this means dictating raw thoughts into ChatGPT first, then running the results through our custom system for polishing. This approach keeps the core ideas intact while aligning the final draft with Micro Empires’ style.

For visuals, we turn to Canva to create striking covers. Then, everything comes together on Beehiv, our go-to platform for publishing newsletters like this one.

4 — The Importance of Training Intuition

Over time, we’ve developed a knack for spotting AI-generated quirks. It’s a skill that’s becoming increasingly valuable as digital tools evolve. Recognizing these patterns helps us stay super aware in digital spaces and ensure the content feels as “authentic” as possible.

By combining AI with human creativity (and intuition), we’re able to produce content that hopefully resonates, informs, and inspires—all without losing the personal touch that defines us.

Key Takeaways (for Immediate Action)

Here are a few actionable takeaways from this process that you can apply right away:

  1. Build a Custom GPT
    If you’re regularly creating content, consider training a custom GPT on your own data—whether it’s articles, blog posts, or reports. This ensures the AI reflects your unique tone and style while providing accurate, relevant references.

  2. Keep Humans in the Loop
    Don’t skip the human review. Always read content aloud to catch awkward phrasing or overly generic AI-generated patterns. It’s a quick, effective way to fine-tune the final output.

  3. Start with Clear Ideas
    Dictate your raw thoughts or bullet points first. Feeding clear input into AI tools results in sharper drafts, so focus on outlining the main points before asking the tool to refine.

  4. Standardize Your Workflow
    Create a structure for your content. Whether it’s newsletters, blog posts, or social media, having a repeatable format saves time and keeps your brand consistent.

  5. Experiment with Tools
    Pair your AI tool with platforms like Canva for visuals or Beehive for publishing. These integrations make the entire process more streamlined.

  6. Develop Pattern Recognition
    Spend time identifying common quirks in AI-generated content (phrases, sentence structures, etc.) so you can quickly spot and fix them. This skill sharpens with practice and ensures your content feels authentic.

Taking these steps can help you use AI effectively without losing your personal touch.

Here’s to building smarter, not harder—together.

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