In this episode of AI Leadership Lab, host Ryan Heath sits down with Dan Morrison, CEO of StoryVenture and strategic communications professor at Johns Hopkins University, to explore how storytelling remains humanity's most powerful tool even as AI transforms the communications landscape.
Drawing from his career spanning Bloomberg, IBM, the State Department, OECD, and Pew Research Center, Dan argues that AI hasn't changed the fundamental principles of persuasion that Aristotle identified 2,000 years ago.
From discussing the parallels between the dot-com bubble and today's AI revolution to exploring the US-China AI narrative competition, this conversation offers communicators a roadmap for leading their organizations through technological transformation while keeping human creativity at the center.
Key Takeaways
Storytelling Fundamentals Never Change
Despite AI's transformative power, the core elements of persuasive storytelling — Aristotle's ethos, pathos, and logos —remain relevant today. Humans must still craft authentic narratives with clear beginnings, middles, and ends that tap into emotion, establish credibility, and demonstrate logic.
AI Should Be Your Second Draft, Not Your First
The most effective use of AI in creative work comes in the middle of the process, not at the beginning or end.
Technology Wins Battles, Narratives Win Coalitions
In the global AI race between the US, China, and Europe, technical superiority alone isn't enough. The US may have advantages in external trust and coalition-building despite internal polarization, while China's infrastructure and scale advantages are offset by challenges in persuading other nations to adopt its AI vision. Europe risks repeating internet-era mistakes by over-regulating without matching innovation.
Domain Expertise Becomes More Valuable, Not Less
AI doesn't diminish the value of years of professional experience — it amplifies it. Seasoned professionals can immediately spot AI hallucinations and guide AI tools more effectively through sophisticated prompting.
Communicators Have a Once-in-a-Generation Leadership Opportunity
Communications professionals should seize the moment by becoming their organization's leaders in AI experimentation and positioning themselves at the center of organizational transformation.
Build Trust Before You Need It
In an era of rapid misinformation spread, organizations must proactively control their narratives. When attacks come, third-party validators who already trust you will come to your defense — but that trust must be earned long before a crisis hits.
Chapter Timestamps
[02:00] Where data and diplomacy intersect
[04:00] What doesn't change with AI in storytelling
[06:00] Using AI in the creative writing process
[09:00] Writer's block and AI as a thinking partner
[11:00] Trust and credibility in legacy institutions
[15:00] The US-China AI narrative competition
[18:00] Europe's challenge: Innovation vs. regulation
[20:00] Finland's approach to combating misinformation
[23:00] Essential skills for communicators in the AI era
About the guest
Dan Morrison is the CEO of StoryVenture, a strategic communications firm, and teaches strategic political communications and persuasion at Johns Hopkins University. His career has consistently positioned him at the intersection of data, diplomacy, and storytelling, spanning roles as a financial journalist at Bloomberg (where he covered the dot-com boom and bust), speechwriter and communicator at IBM, and communications leadership positions at the OECD in Paris, the U.S. State Department, and Pew Research Center.
Dan brings a unique perspective to AI's impact on communications by drawing parallels between today's AI revolution and the internet era. His teaching focuses on timeless persuasion principles while helping students and clients navigate how AI tools can enhance rather than replace human creativity. Dan is also a novelist and screenwriter
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