Artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from a novelty to a necessity in corporate communications. As the software becomes more capable and more accessible, communications professionals have a timely opportunity to integrate AI into their work while maintaining trust and credibility.
Here’s a look at some of the most influential AI tools shaping communications and how professionals can use them strategically.
ChatGPT
More than any other AI tool on this list, ChatGPT introduced the power of AI into the business and communications world. Since its debut in 2022, it has redefined content development, offering ways to enhance writing, idea generation and message development.
ChatGPT is the classic introductory AI tool for communicators. Regardless of how often they plan to use it in their work, communicators should familiarize themselves with the platform and refine their approach to AI-generated content, ensuring messaging aligns with your corporate narrative and maintains authenticity.
Mastering “prompt engineering,” the process of refining AI prompts to achieve a better output, is now a crucial skill for communicators who want to get the most out of AI.
Google Gemini
After ChatGPT broke through from a Silicon Valley audience to the general public, Google responded by creating its own AI platform. Google Gemini, unlike ChatGPT, can pull up-to-the-minute information from the internet. By integrating Google’s search features into an AI chatbot, communicators can quickly summarize news making topics and recent events.
Gemini’s ability to access information in real time is a major strength for tracking breaking news, industry developments and public sentiment, but it is not without its drawbacks. AI, especially Gemini, is not immune to factual errors, and its reliance on external sources also introduces risks. AI does not have the same media literacy skills as a human (at least not yet) and may not be able to determine how reliable a source is. While Gemini can be a useful tool for research, communicators should put a system in place to verify accuracy of its insights.
Midjourney
In an age where visual story telling is a must, Midjourney differentiates itself from the other AI tools through its focus on visual content. Instead of being a tool for message refinement, research or writing, Midjourney allows communications professionals to quickly create images and graphics. While AI-generated imagery is not a replacement for professional design, it can serve as a powerful tool for creating placeholder images, brainstorming visual ideas or illustrating concepts for presentations and campaigns. Corporate communicators should be mindful of the pitfalls of AI-generated images, such as distortions or concerns related to content authenticity. AI should enhance—not replace—the work of skilled designers, ensuring that branding remains consistent and high-quality.
AI’s Role in the Future of Corporate Communications
AI is no longer a standalone tool—it is being integrated into the platforms communicators already use like Adobe and Grammarly. AI isn’t going anywhere, and neither is the corporate communicator, but both are evolving. AI is accelerating content creation, but it is also increasing the need for human oversight, judgment, and strategic thinking.
This year should be the time for corporate communicators to learn how to co-exist with AI and leverage its capabilities to become more strategic, insightful, and influential communicators.