The world is agog with talk of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It's vacuuming our carpets, building and driving our cars, and it's even penning our content. AI-written prose has the efficiency of a hundred keyboards, conjuring a sea of words with a few basic commands. But here’s a fun tidbit: AI is yet to perfect the art of standup comedy: Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K. and Amy Schumer can rest easy!
Still, doomsayers predict a digital apocalypse for writers: “The robots are coming, and they're bringing spellcheck!” I don’t, however, believe that AI is here to steal your livelihood, but to serve up a hot cup of automation, topped with a spoonful of creativity.
At first glance, AI content may seem like something straight from a sci-fi novel. Content mills and bottom-tier writers are biting their nails. The algorithms churn out articles, emails, and social media posts quicker than a Leafs playoff run (all right, we made it past the first round this year!).
This is indeed a game-changer for clients demanding the kind of writing where quantity often trumps quality. In particular those with an appetite for SEO-optimized word salad – which, to be honest, seldom grabs a reader for more than a sentence or two.
However, good writing – authentic, soul-touching, heartwarming, or make-you-laugh writing – that's an entirely different product. It’s not just about stringing words together: it’s an art, a craft, a labour of love that requires skill, imagination, and, dare I say, an “inner ear” that knows which words and phrases (and combinations thereof) that will resonate with the reader. For all its binary brilliance, AI just can’t mimic this human element that gives a written piece its soul.
It can, however, help you avoid embarrassing typos and grammatical faux pas. It can even suggest more eloquent phrases. But can it weave words into an intricate tapestry that evokes deep, visceral emotions? The simple answer is no, at least not yet.
To become a real writer (and not just a ‘content producer’ working against the clock to push out a long-form blog in an hour), one needs to view it as a craft and study it, live it, and most importantly, love it. Writing is more than just knowledge and skill, it's a unique voice, a perspective that's distinctly yours. And that’s something that AI, for all its processing power, can’t replicate.
Think of AI as your trusty sidekick. It's there to make your life easier, not redundant. To streamline your workflow, not steal your job – it’s the Robin to your Batman. AI, if used correctly, can make a good writer even better.
Remember, the canvas of human creativity is vast, so there's plenty of room for both humans and AI. And it's still your story to tell.
Neil Moore is a communications specialist, freelance journalist, masters athlete, and family man who believes that excellence has no expiry date.
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