(Editor’s note: The information from this article by Top Echelon Recruiting Software has been taken from an Expert Recruiter Coaching Series webinar by Henna Pryor of The Pryority Group titled, “Your AI Intern: How to Communicate Digitally as a Human Seller with a Robot Helper” Click HERE to watch the video of that training webinar for free.)
In a world where productivity and personalization collide, modern sellers are facing an overwhelming dilemma: how to maintain the warmth and human connection that builds trust while keeping up with the volume of content, outreach, and follow-up required to drive business.
In her thought-provoking and witty webinar, “Your AI Intern: How to Communicate Digitally as a Human Seller with a Robot Helper,” keynote speaker and executive coach Hannah Pryor lays out a refreshingly grounded view of how AI can revolutionize your workflow — without replacing your authenticity.
“AI won’t replace you,” Pryor affirms. “But someone who knows how to use AI well might.”
Let’s dive into her top strategies and insights for making artificial intelligence your most tireless — and trainable — team member.
Frame AI as an Intern, Not a Genius
Pryor emphasizes that AI, when used properly, behaves much like a junior hire: eager to help, but in need of direction.
“It’s not the expert — you are. But it’s an intern that never sleeps, never takes a sick day, and doesn’t mind being told what to do over and over again.”
This simple mental shift reframes your expectations. Rather than hoping AI will hand you the perfect email, blog post, or sales pitch on the first try, treat it like a junior team member. Interns need:
- Coaching and mentoring
- Specific assignments
- Clear examples
When given context and feedback, your AI intern can move mountains — or at least get your next sales email halfway done while you grab a coffee.
Why Every Seller Needs a Digital Intern
Pryor makes it personal. As a speaker, author, mother of two, and business owner, she doesn’t have the luxury of 70-hour workweeks. Instead, she focuses on how to “make time stretch.”
“There’s always too much to do. But there’s also someone — or something — that can help. Enter your robot helper.”
She identifies four big benefits of using AI like an intern:
1. Compensate for Skill Gaps
You’re not a copywriter? No problem. Your intern can brainstorm headlines, polish sentences, or reframe job descriptions.
“It’s like getting access to a skill set you don’t have on your own — and not having to pay $150 an hour for it.”
2.Expand Your Bandwidth
Let AI handle tedious but necessary work:
- Meeting summaries
- LinkedIn engagement ideas
- Market research drafts
Even better, it can tackle the projects that sit untouched for months.
3. Offer a Neutral Viewpoint
AI has no memory of how you’ve always done things — which can be a gift.
“It’s a blank slate. It has no baggage, no bias, and no office politics. Sometimes that’s exactly what we need.”
4. Spark Creativity
Feeling blocked? Let your AI intern propose an idea you’d never think of.
“If you’ve ever stared at a blinking cursor, you know how frustrating it is. AI can be that voice that says, ‘What about this?’”
How to Start Onboarding Your AI Intern
Every good internship starts with orientation. So does using AI well.
Here are Pryor’s foundational questions to ask:
What’s Sitting on My To-Do List Too Long?
If you’ve been delaying writing that blog, drafting that sales sequence, or updating your LinkedIn, it’s a candidate for AI support.
Example: Feed AI your notes from a client call. Ask it to create:
- An internal recap
- A follow-up email
- Talking points for your next call
Where Do I Need Extra Muscle?
Small teams (or solo operators) have bottlenecks. AI can be your extra pair of hands.
Use it to:
- Draft social copy
- Build FAQs for your VAs or split partners
- Create internal guides from repeated questions
Where Am I Creatively Blocked?
This is where AI shines. If you’re stuck, ask it to:
- Rewrite your email in 5 tones
- Suggest analogies for your service
- Create tweet threads based on your blog posts
- “AI won’t give you brilliance on the first try. But it will give you something to react to — and that’s usually all we need to get unstuck.”
Metaphors, Parables, and Artisanal Bread
Pryor’s favorite example of AI-powered creativity came from her work on her book, Good Awkward. She wanted a metaphor for the value of imperfection. AI served up the usual suspects: broken pottery, impressionist paintings…
“But then it gave me ‘artisanal bread.’ And I was like — YES. That’s it.”
That crusty, uneven loaf? We pay more for it, precisely because it looks handmade. That metaphor made it into her final manuscript. That’s the magic of AI.
Similarly, Pryor shared a story she found through AI — a parable about cutting the ends off a pot roast — that became a go-to in sales calls:
“It’s the perfect metaphor for status quo bias. Clients say, ‘This is how we’ve always done it.’ But they can’t remember why. That story gets them to rethink.”
Training Your Robot: Good Prompts vs. Bad Prompts
The #1 key to AI success? The prompt.
A vague prompt = generic output. A clear prompt = tailored brilliance.
Bad Prompt:
“Write a sales email about a dietary supplement.”
Result: Cringe-worthy phrases like “transforming health journeys” and “science-backed ingredients.”
Better Prompt:
“Write a professional but warm email to Jessica Alba based on this article from The Cut. Reference her focus on clean living and skincare.”
“You want to treat your prompt like a job description,” Pryor explains. “Would you ever hire an intern and just say, ‘Make me something good’? Of course not.”
Iteration Station: Your Secret Weapon
Even great prompts don’t hit the bullseye on the first try. That’s where prompt chaining comes in.
Start broad, then refine:
- “Write an email introducing our staffing services.”
- “Now make it more casual.”
- “Add a mountain climbing metaphor.”
- “Trim it to 100 words.”
- “You don’t need to start over. Just keep asking it to adjust. You’re having a conversation — not making a one-time request.”
Make It Sound Human (Not Like a Robot)
AI loves buzzwords. Unfortunately, buyers don’t.
Your job: scrub out language no one actually says out loud.
- “Revolutionize your workflow” → try “save time”
- “Empower your potential” → try “help you grow”
- “If it sounds like a press release, delete it.”
Personalize with Purpose
AI can tailor content — if you give it real input.
- Paste LinkedIn posts into your prompt
- Use company bios or press coverage
- Reference public quotes from your prospects
Then say: “Using this info, write a friendly intro email that shows I’ve done my homework.”
AI can also learn your tone. Just paste an email you’ve written and say: “Use this tone for all future replies in this thread.”
Henna’s Favorite Tools
You don’t need a dozen apps. Pryor recommends a few go-tos:
- Claude.ai – Handles long files and context-rich conversations
- ChatGPT – Great generalist with solid writing chops
- Descript – Edits video/audio, removes filler words, and auto-generates captions
- Castmagic – Summarizes podcasts and long recordings into usable content
- Zoom AI – Built-in summaries for recorded meetings
Each has a specialty, but they all rely on one thing: your prompt.
“AI doesn’t create brilliance. It reflects your clarity. Better input = better output.”
Set Goals for Your AI Intern
Would you let a human intern work without objectives? No. So don’t do that with AI either.
Define what success looks like:
- Save 4 hours per week on email and summaries
- Draft 5 social posts per week
- Prepare talking points for 10 meetings a month
Track your usage. What’s working? What needs refining? Treat it like a new hire. Evaluate, optimize, repeat.
“If your intern isn’t helping you do better work or save time, it’s not the intern’s fault. It’s how you’re managing them.”
AI as a Shot of Espresso for Your Humanity
Pryor wrapped her session with one of the most memorable lines:
“Think of AI as a shot of espresso for your humanity. It doesn’t replace your voice — it amplifies it.”
AI is not about shortcuts. It’s about jumpstarting your genius. It’s about freeing you from blank-page syndrome, repetitive tasks, and creative bottlenecks — so you can do more of what only humans can do: connect.
Final Takeaways
✅ Treat AI like an intern — coach it, guide it, refine it
✅ Use it to summarize, draft, brainstorm, and iterate
✅ Don’t let it sound like a robot — make it sound like you
✅ Feed it real input — emails, articles, posts — to personalize output
✅ Set clear goals and measure value
The future of sales and recruiting isn’t AI versus people — it’s AI with people. Used correctly, AI becomes your sidekick, your assistant, your digital intern. It helps you show up better, faster, and more human.
“Don’t copy and paste what AI gives you. Use it to kick off your own brilliance.”
To learn more from Hannah Pryor, visit hannahpryor.com or connect with her on LinkedIn. Her book, Good Awkward, is available wherever books are sold.
