The Future is Here – Are You Welcoming AI With Open Arms or Shutting It Down?

The term AI (Artificial Intelligence) might have you, the copywriter, running for the hills thinking you will need to find another gig, and fast.  It also might give you a welcomed sigh of relief if you are buried in projects that have given you the dreaded writer’s block.  No matter which way you feel, AI is here and is making a huge impact to many creative’s work-flows.  So let me take a minute to give you my humble thoughts, as a long-time production creative and copywriter.

At first, I admit, I was frightened, worried, and had an all-around feeling of dread, thinking I am being replaced by computers and we have slipped into some dystopian altered universe (and perhaps this is the year I branch out and become a florist or maybe an Uber driver).  However, the more I dig in, the more I am seeing some potential usefulness.

It is important to recognize that AI cannot replace humans with their infinite genius, nuances, emotions, and ability to offer insight and anecdotal connections.  It is a time-saving tool and a starting point initiator.  It is something that if employed can give writers and researchers something to generate ideas from and improve their writing quality.  It can help you define concepts, popular trends, and even analyze data, which is a huge time-saver.  And because AI is relatively new, it will only get “smarter” and more sophisticated, allowing it to be potentially even more useful for you. 

That being said, it does have a few pitfalls you need to be aware of, such as its lack of empathy and emotional intelligence.  In other words, while it might be able to give contextual responses, it might perpetuate existing biases and stereotypes.  The ethical balance in regards to the use of this technology should always be weighed, especially in regards to certain industries such as heathcare, where a personalized touch goes a long way.  It also goes without saying that the flip side of it getting “smarter” necessarily means you, the employed human copywriter, will also need to pivot to ensure your value against automation. 

In summation, my overall feeling of dread is quelled momentarily, as I utilize this fascinating tool to save me time and resources.  I challenge you to give it a try and see what you think and how it might help you to learn and do more with your writing.  If nothing else, it’s fun to see if you can stump it.  There are many different AI platforms and/or programs out there (free and paid versions).  When selecting an AI tool, it is important to consider what you need it for and the level of expertise required, as some have specific industry uses.  I suggest testing out ChatGPT, as there is a 100 character limit to the answers it will give you and there are both free and paid versions.  What can this powerful, and potentially useful tool do for your writing/research/ideation? Time will tell.

Written by Tracy Nesseth (an actual person)