Like me, you probably didn’t pay much attention to advances in artificial intelligence (AI) over the years.
It was only after OpenAI launched ChatGPT, a free research and writing tool, in late November 2022 that everyone started to take notice. Quite suddenly, writers began to fear that AI had the potential to replace them.
Fast forward to today, and we are now all familiar with terms such as neural networks, deep learning algorithms, and LLMs.
AI-powered technologies are affecting many domains. But for writers, the rapid rise of AI text generation logically remains the main concern.
The rise and rise of AI writing tools
In the last couple of years, there’s been an explosion of new AI writing tools that leverage natural language processing algorithms to assist or perhaps replace writers in various tasks.
The new tools can range from grammar and spelling checkers to advanced content-generation apps. Many are capable of producing entire articles, reports, marketing copy, and even books.
It’s obvious that the appeal of these new AI writing tools is the ability to automate repetitive tasks, improve writing quality, and dramatically increase productivity and output.
You could say that they can help writers quickly identify grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, or stylistic inconsistencies, allowing them to focus on more creative aspects.
But while AI technology can provide insights into readability, it can’t effectively help writers in tailoring content for specific audiences or objectives, nor is it reliable at all when it comes to facts. When AI doesn’t know something, it invents or hallucinates.
Yet, AI can write very well. If you have ever prompted an AI tool like ChatGPT or Gemini to draft a text, you must have noticed that the generated text is almost always grammatically perfect with no spelling mistakes.
It creates a massive temptation to publish an error-free text, especially for students or writers who may use English as a second language.
Anyone can now output long and short-form error-free texts in seconds. This has led to a massive amount of content being published online. However, much of it is deficient in emotion and factual information.
That’s one of the biggest concerns for not only writers, but for the ongoing integrity of the Internet to deliver reliable information.
Can AI replace human writers?
AI writing technology is improving every day, so the question is: Will AI eventually replace human writers?
AI is undoubtedly proficient at specific writing tasks. It can almost instantly generate text based on predefined prompts or data inputs.
But what it lacks is the creativity, empathy, accuracy, and contextual understanding that only human writers can achieve.
AI can imitate human writing to a certain degree. But it can’t replicate the depth of human thought, emotion, knowledge, and experience that great writing needs.
Excellent writing is not just about stringing words together in perfect grammatical order. It’s about storytelling, persuasion, and connection with readers.
Writers have a unique perspective, voice, and insight in their work that cannot be duplicated by machines.
Yes, AI can help writers by automating mundane tasks and providing suggestions.
But it can’t replace the creative intuition, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence that distinguishes human writing from automated content.
In this respect, writers and authors will always produce superior writing that people want to read.
However, there are some situations where the work of writers may be negatively affected.
For example, writing ad copy variations or hundreds or thousands of product descriptions. It’s a task that AI can now perform relatively well.
Another is that it can write acceptable reports, summaries, or analyses based on data input.
So yes, in some cases where bland or generic text is all that is required, AI can replace writers.
But when it comes to all forms of creative writing, writers can’t be replaced.
The advantages of AI for writers
Instead of believing that AI is a threat, you should use it as a practical tool that complements and enhances your writing process.
AI tools offer several advantages, including efficiency, productivity, and accuracy.
Using automation for tasks such as idea generation, outlining, proofreading, and basic editing speed up the writing process.
It can help you save time, allowing you to focus on higher-level aspects of your work, such as developing concepts, researching, and storytelling.
Additionally, tools can help you overcome common problems, such as writer’s block, by providing inspiration, generating ideas, and suggesting alternatives.
When free access to AI first hit, I must say that I was both impressed and extremely concerned at the same time.
But now, after using it for quite some time, I look at it differently.
Yes, it clearly poses some threats, so it’s natural that writers may still fear AI. However, the upsides of using AI to help, improve, and increase productivity mostly outweigh the downsides.
As with any new technology, you can’t bury your head in the sand and ignore it. AI writing is here to stay now, so the best way to handle it is to try, test, and experiment with ways you can use it to your advantage.
How writers can adapt
Don’t be afraid to look at different ways to use technology to save time and improve your writing process.
Investigate new tools and check the features, capabilities, and limitations.
When you experiment with different tools, you can identify a few that best suit your needs and preferences, whether it’s for grammar checking, idea generation, or summarizing.
You don’t need a huge collection of tools. In fact, in some cases, you might only use one.
I often use Bing Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini for researching ideas, or creating outlines.
But it’s difficult to say that one is better than the other because they change and update so frequently.
Another AI tool I use is my premium version grammar checker. I have used it for many years, but now it acts more like an AI writing tool than a grammar checker.
It’s a little annoying in some ways because that’s not why I have paid and used it for so long. With the advances in free tools, perhaps I’m now wasting my money on an annual subscription.
But I suppose that is part of the process of adapting to new technology.
One recent additional tool I am using regularly now is an AI detector. Not because I am using AI to write but because it is useful in locating possible robotic-sounding sentences.
It’s not a big deal, but I find it quite handy.
The best aspect of trying and experimenting is that it can help you overcome some of the fears you may have.
The future of writing with AI
AI technology will continue to evolve and improve, so it’s clear that it will impact writers and possibly authors, too.
In the future, we will surely see even more sophisticated AI writing tools that might blur the lines between human and machine-generated writing.
It may be possible to mimic a defined writing style and voice or adhere to corporate style manuals.
If this happens, commercial considerations may inevitably lead to cost-cutting and a reduction in staff writers.
However, AI won’t replace the unique voice, perspective, and creativity of human writers.
Writing is more than merely producing words on a page, which is all AI can and will do.
But there is no doubt that writers will be working with AI to improve productivity and output.
Summary
Yes, it’s understandable that some writers may still fear AI. But fear often comes from the unknown.
In the case of writers, the only way forward is to research, experiment, and discover how you can use AI to your best advantage.
It’s not going to go away, no matter how attractive that thought is.
Sure, the ability to create a 1,500-word text in only a few seconds is mind-blowing. Who would have thought it was possible only a few years ago?
But when you analyze the output and read these texts, you will learn quite quickly that they are bland, impersonal, generic, and lacking in most aspects of true creative writing.
Yes, AI’s capabilities will improve in the future, but I doubt that it will ever replace a thinking and inventive human writer.
Just as is it impossible to copy your spoken voice, AI will never be able to imitate your writing voice.
Keep writing, but take advantage of the new tools that are available to you to make your job a little easier.
Related Reading: How To Use AI To Write Better, Without Any Guilt
