If you can't explain it, you can't sell it: translating AI for the real world

If you can't explain it, you can't sell it: translating AI for the real world

AI can feel complex, overwhelming, or just plain confusing; especially for people who don't live and breathe tech. But making AI easy to understand isn't just a nice-to-have, it's essential for adoption.

Jo, our Marketing Specialist here at Neural Voice, has the job to bridge the gap between the tech we build and the people who need to understand it.

Jo explores how AI communication has changed, how AI tools can be misunderstood, and why your target audience probably doesn't need to know about your architecture diagram (and that's okay).

What's the biggest misconception people have about AI?

"That if they adopt AI now, they'll be out of a job in six months. No. AI is a tool. It's there to enhance efficiency, cut down on admin, and free you up to focus on what actually matters.

Trust me, type "do my job [insert job title here]" into any AI chat tool and you'll get a load of waffle back. Not a functioning robot with the ability to think, analyse or genuinely understand what real-world humans need or do."

What does it actually mean to 'translate AI for the real world'?

"AI is new tech, and a lot of people simply don't understand how it works. But why should they? When you buy a t-shirt, you don't need to know the stitch count or how many variations were tested. You just want to know if it looks good and feels comfortable.

It's the same with AI. Customers want to know: does it work for me? Is it easy? Is it helpful? That's what they care about, not the backend."

How do you balance hype vs. reality when talking about AI?

"'Hype' can be a short burst of excitement, or it can turn into long-term interest. It's important, but so is reality.

This kind of ties into a bigger question: is hype sustainable? As a customer, when you're hyped about a product, do you buy once and never come back? Or do you keep watching to see if it lives up to the hype?

In the end, people stick with products that are reliable, consistent, and useful, not just shiny and new."

What's one thing you wish every potential customer understood about voice AI?

"It's useful. It saves time. It's efficient. And once you try it, you won't go back.

That first step, getting people to give it a go, is the hardest part. But once they do, they realise how valuable it is."

What's your favourite analogy or metaphor you've used to explain an AI concept?

"Collaboration, not competition. Simple as that."

What's changed most about how people talk about AI in the last year?

"People are still worried about AI taking jobs, but that fear has dropped off massively this past year.

Now the conversation's shifted. It's not about avoiding AI altogether; it's about choosing the right AI tools to implement.

Linking back to the hype question: what AI tools will actually help your business? What saves time? What cuts costs? What drives revenue?

Focus on the outcome and not the new shiny toy."

Any advice for other marketers trying to explain technical products?

"Who's your audience? How do they speak? How do they learn?

If your target audience are tech roles, great, speak their language. But if your target audience is sales, marketing, or management, dial down the jargon. Focus on the outcome.

What does your AI actually do? What problem does it solve? Start with the 'why' and the 'how' can follow."

Final thought?

"Behind every great AI product is solid engineering, but it's how you explain it that drives adoption across your target audience.

At Neural Voice, we combine powerful tech with clear, human-first messaging. Because when people understand what voice AI can do for them, that's when the real magic happens."

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