Q&A with Audrey Chia
From the recent RealmIQ Sessions Podcast
Curt Doty:
Audrey, welcome to RealmIQ Sessions. I'm a big fan and excited you're joining us today from Singapore.
Audrey Chia:
Thank you for having me, Curt. I’m super excited to be here.
Curt:
So, two years ago, when the generative AI boom began—where were you in your career, and did you ever expect AI to take you on this global trajectory?
Audrey:
I would have never dreamt of this. Interestingly, I started using AI the same time I launched my consultancy, Close with Copy. It was terrifying and exciting. I saw two paths: resist or ride the tide. As a solopreneur, I had to learn to leverage it to get ahead. So instead of fearing it, I turned it into an advantage and began posting AI and copywriting content—because no one else was doing it at the time.
Curt:
Your LinkedIn stats mention using bespoke AI content systems that save 70% more time and deliver a 3X increase in ROI. Can you walk me through those numbers?
Audrey:
Many use AI without context—they just throw tools at the wall. But as a conversion copywriter, my job is to help clients earn more. AI streamlines every stage of ad creation: audience research, competitive analysis, value proposition refinement, message testing. So instead of five ads, I get 30 solid ones—faster and with the same quality. The ROI is in the time saved, productivity boosted, and results delivered with a human still in the loop.
Curt:
So, it’s not just efficiency—it’s efficacy. And you mentioned “human in the loop.” I advocate for Creative-Centered AI (CCAI)—keeping creatives at the center to push past the vanilla content we often see. How do you teach people to stay human in the loop?
Audrey:
I love your concept of creator-centric AI. People with creative backgrounds bring vision—that’s what gives AI outputs soul and direction. A non-copywriter prompting for headlines will get different results than someone like me who knows what to look for. The human brings the intuition, expertise, and editing eye. I always tell my clients: build your foundation first, then layer AI on top. That’s how you avoid vanilla—or worse, crappy—content.
Curt:
Totally agree. And as you know, a lot of “AI experts” suddenly appeared—some barely out of high school, no real-world experience. Creatives took a beat but are now using AI with purpose. Especially in film and video, we’ve seen incredible work from people with VFX or editing backgrounds. They're elevating the tools. And you’ve become a great teacher. Are there any tools you especially recommend?
Audrey:
I love testing new tools because the landscape changes constantly. For instance, ChatGPT has evolved tremendously—it now writes better than some junior copywriters. I also use:
NotebookLM by Google – digests large PDFs or academic papers into usable content. You can even convert accounting books into podcasts for learning.
Sybill – transcribes meeting notes and helps me pull insights for landing pages.
You.com – lets me test different LLMs like Claude and ChatGPT on the same prompt to see which performs better.
The key is knowing your use case and how each tool fits it.
Curt:
You mentioned You.com and DeepSeek. Have you tested DeepSeek yet?
Audrey:
Not yet, but I’ve heard great things. I’m cautious—I ask myself: am I happy with my current toolset? Will this add value or solve a pain point? If yes, I’ll test it. But I don’t jump on every new release. Some tools solve real user problems better than early entrants, and that’s what I look for.
Curt:
We’re all still navigating the ethics of these tools—how platforms use our data. Microsoft Copilot, Google Docs, Adobe Firefly—it’s so convenient, but where does our input end up? How do you handle ethical concerns in your process?
Audrey:
There are a lot of gray areas. I applaud platforms like HeyGen that don’t train on your uploads or outputs. That transparency matters. Users will increasingly demand better practices. Until then, I advise being mindful of what you input and choosing platforms with clear data policies.
Curt:
Yes! There’s a big difference between the AI investment bubble and the AI adoption bubble. The former might pop, but the latter—what we’re doing—will only grow. Now let’s talk jobs. What do you say to those worried about AI replacing them?
Audrey:
AI will replace many jobs, but it will also create new ones. I’ve spoken to business owners—the first question they ask is, “Will this reduce headcount?” That’s reality. So, employees must upskill now. Repetitive jobs are the first to go. Build new skillsets to evolve with the tech and you’ll stay valuable.
Curt:
Exactly. The Internet, social media—all disruptive technologies created jobs in hindsight. I argue we should keep headcount and supercharge them instead. AI can free people up to think bigger, solve problems, and innovate. What's your take?
Audrey:
I fully agree. It’s about productivity and unlocking business growth. But both sides must step up: employers with a growth mindset and employees with new skills. We’re in a three-to-five-year adoption window—this is the time to adapt.
Curt:
Do you think AI adoption should come from the middle, not the top?
Audrey:
Absolutely. You need champions—at every level. Don't wait for leadership to mandate it. Do workflow audits. Start in marketing, HR, finance—use AI to streamline. One CMO I know built an org chart with “human + AI” for every role. That’s smart. It’s about augmentation, not replacement.
Curt:
Love that. Especially coming from a CMO. Marketing is the perfect AI use case. One last topic: Copilot in Word or Google Docs. If I tweak a paragraph using Copilot, is my whole doc being trained on? Any insight?
Audrey:
I wish I had a clear answer. It’s a critical question. Convenience is great, but where does your data go? We need clearer terms, especially from the big platforms. For now, caution is key.
Curt:
Exactly. It’s an ethical and branding issue. And let’s stop showing robots every time we talk about AI—it’s just a computer interface! But let’s end with this: How can people find you and work with you?
Audrey:
I run Close with Copy. I help clients convert better using copywriting rooted in strategy and insights. You can find me on LinkedIn at Audrey Chia (CHIA) or at my website: www.closewithcopy.co.
Curt:
Perfect. We’ll include links in the metadata. Thanks again, Audrey. And thanks to our listeners—follow RealmIQ Sessions on your favorite podcast platform and hit that subscribe button. We’re also on TikTok, LinkedIn, and BlueSky. See you next time!
Audrey:
Thank you, Curt! Have a great evening.
Listen to the full interview on Spotify.
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Come to the festival October 23-36, 2025.
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