The Editor-in-Chief: Turning AI Into Your Creative Partner
Doris Kearns Goodwin’s An Unfinished Love Story offers a deeply personal vantage point on the 1960s, blending her own historical expertise with her husband’s front-row seat to power.
One of the most fascinating takeaways for me was the "behind-the-scenes" machinery of political speechwriting. It isn't a solitary act; it's a team effort. It starts with a big idea, followed by a deep dive from a research team, and finally, the speechwriter’s craft. From there, the draft becomes a living document, passing back and forth between the writer and the president for constant refinement until it is finally spoken to the world.
The collaborative speechwriting process described by Goodwin serves as a fascinating conceptual blueprint for how we interact with Artificial Intelligence today. In this historical model, the president functioned much like a modern prompt engineer, providing the "big idea" and high-level vision. The research and drafting teams acted as the processing engine, synthesizing vast amounts of information into a cohesive narrative.
Today, AI collapses this entire administrative pipeline into a single interface. A user provides the initial intent; the model performs the "research" and "drafting" phases in seconds; and the user then engages in the same iterative feedback loop that speechwriters and presidents once undertook over days or weeks. This evolution transforms an elite, labor-intensive ritual into an accessible, real-time dialogue between human creativity and machine intelligence.
In the 1960s, computer scientist J.C.R. Licklider envisioned a future of "Man-Computer Symbiosis," where human brains and machines would be "coupled together very tightly" to think in ways neither could alone. Today, using AI for a presentation turns that visionary dream into a practical workflow. To do this effectively, start by acting as the "Visionary"—defining your "Big Idea" with a clear, specific prompt that outlines your goal and audience. Next, use AI as your "Research Team" to synthesize data, surface analogies, and pressure-test your arguments. Transition into the "Architect" phase by asking the model to structure a narrative arc with a compelling hook and a resonant closing. Finally, reclaim your role as the "Editor-in-Chief," iterating through drafts to inject your unique voice, verify facts, and ensure the final speech feels human and authentic.
It is incredible to think that in the 1960s, a process this sophisticated required a literal room full of researchers and professional speechwriters—an elite resource available only to world leaders. Today, that "room" fits in your pocket. We have moved from a decade of centralized power to an era of democratized brilliance, where the symbiosis Licklider imagined allows anyone with a big idea to give it the weight and clarity it deserves.
The "room" where the big ideas happen isn't just for presidents anymore. By embracing AI as a research and drafting partner, you are free to do what leaders do best: cast vision and refine the message. You’ve moved from the "labor" of leadership to the "art" of leadership.
This week, identify one project where you’ve been stuck in the "drafting" phase. I challenge you to step into the role of Editor-in-Chief. Use the tools at your disposal to build the draft, then spend your energy refining the voice and the vision. How did it change your perspective? Let me know in the comments!
