Artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools are giving writers and traditional search engines a run for their money by reducing the time needed to create content. The latest phenom ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, reaching a whopping 1 million users in less than seven days.
One thing is sure: AI has brought a twist to the writing game. You can now write verses, email copies, blog posts, and college essays by simply entering a topic prompt. But can AI replace human writers completely?
Let’s find out in this article.
What is AI Writing with ChatGPT?
AI writing is the use of machine learning and other artificial intelligence tools to create written content. This form of writing relies on natural language processing (NLP) to generate text that meets specific grammar, tone, and localization demands.
Businesses, brands, and content marketers rely on AI writing tools to optimize their content creation workflows. These tools can also help marketers tailor their writing to a specific target audience in order to increase engagement and conversions.
How does AI Writing Work in ChatGPT?
On the surface, AI writing works like something you’ll see in Asimov’s universe: you enter a search term, and the answer pops out instantly. But the reality is that AI writing involves intricate research and programming to generate machine learning algorithms for tools like Jasper AI, Rytr, CopyAI, etc.
The system combs through existing content on the web and gathers similar data based on the user’s search query. These AI algorithms, combined with modern machine learning concepts, go through multiple iterations of learning how humans speak and write to provide a close-to-realistic result for the user.
For instance, ChatGPT is a pre-trained large learning model that generates human-like text using Artificial Intelligence. It is based on the Generative Pre-trained Transformer(GPT) model.
Open AI first introduced this model in 2018 as GPT-1. Over the years, it evolved to GPT-2, GPT-3, InstructGPT, and now ChatGPT.
Here is the working algorithm for ChatGPT:
- The system picks a random prompt and provides options A and B as responses.
- A labeler (human moderator) determines which of the responses is more accurate.
- If A is correct, then B gets ignored.
- After several iterations, the responses become more polished and accurate to the original question.
All models of GPT rely on the transformer framework for operation. An encoder analyzes the data input, while a decoder produces the output—they both use a self-attention mechanism to evaluate the separate bits of the sequence and deduce the appropriate meaning and context.
ChatGPT is an offshoot of Instruct GPT, which pioneered the integration of human commentary into the learning algorithm while attempting to better align the model output with the user’s intent. In essence, AI tools like ChatGPT learn from humans and require human input to improve their accuracy.
The Good Aspects of AI Content Writing
According to Mike Gorman, CEO of Online Media LLC, “Artificial Intelligence writing assistants are the greatest thing since sliced bread! It is helping me to create content like I never dreamed possible.”
Rather than considering the introduction of AI into writing as a threat, you should see it as an asset in your writing toolbox.
Here are other benefits of artificial intelligence tools:
Increases Productivity
AI writing tools can churn out multiple forms of content using a few search terms—which writers can harness to improve productivity. The time spent brainstorming and outlining content ideas could go into other productive activities.
For any content marketer working with a multi-faceted content workflow, using advanced algorithms and NLP tools can help you optimize processes and increase your output.
Improves the Quality of Your Writing
AI tools like Grammarly help you cross-check punctuations and grammatical constructions. You can also use them to choose spelling variants and adjust the tone of your delivery. Sometimes, these tools also come with citation tools and plagiarism checkers.
In general, using AI tools for writing will improve the quality of your texts.
Enhances Your Creativity
AI solutions like ChatGPT and Jasper AI can provide you with creative ideas for any content writing activity. For example, you can ask the chatbot to help you generate a short poem for a marketing campaign. Afterward, you can now ask a human writer to humanize the AI content—or add a personal spin to it.
Saves Money
Compared with the amount required to hire an experienced writer, AI writing tools are more budget-friendly. I know, I know; these robots are taking all our jobs. But the bad news is that they are here to stay. So you might as well capitalize on their budget-friendliness for your business.
Although most AI writing solutions require monthly subscriptions for premium services, this amount is nowhere near the average salary of a physical writer. Besides, you can get an AI content writer for free with tools like Hemingway App.
Defeats Writer’s Block
One of the major challenges for writers is the ability to continuously generate fresh ideas for content. With AI tools like Sudowrite, you can power through writer’s block faster than usual. These AI tools can suggest topics or content your target audience will find engaging.
Bolsters your SEO Efforts
If you have zero SEO knowledge, AI writing tools can open the door to Google’s search algorithm for you.
With tools like Ahrefs, Surfer, and Growth Bar, you can generate SEO content and optimize meta descriptions. These AI SEO tools also suggest relevant links for internal linking and high-volume long-tail and short-tail keywords.
The Downsides of Using AI Content Writing Tools
Here are some glaring cons of using AI tools for writing, according to the companies themselves:
Introduces Plagiarism
If you depend on bots for your writing, you will produce plagiarised content. These AI tools deliver the same results for similar search queries. That means the content is no longer unique.
You’ll need to run them through plagiarism tools to detect their originality, as well as hire writers and editors to proofread your content. Also, you need to bear in mind that plagiarism affects your reputation. You could go to jail for copying or reproducing someone’s work.
Provides Erroneous Facts
As if plagiarised content is not bad enough, you also stand the risk of pushing out erroneous, falsified, or unverified claims. As seen with ChatGPT, AI tools are prone to human bias. So, you’ll still have to verify the facts to make sure everything is up-to-date and accurate.
Attracts Google SEO penalties
Google constantly revisits its algorithm as part of its dedication to unmatched user experience. Google can penalize your website if it suspects that you game the algorithm without providing the necessary value to the users.
As mentioned earlier, some AI writing tools produce low-quality, plagiarized content, which will definitely land you SEO penalties. To ensure you are on the right track, follow Google’s SEO guidelines when optimizing AI-generated content.
Needs Humans to Improve the Tone
The inability of AI tools to evoke emotions or empathy remains one of the leading reasons why humans will still be relevant in writing. AI content writing tools depend largely on humans to adjust the tone of voice in your messaging to what the target audience wants—which is every brand’s dream.
Humans are emotional beings, and they need content compelling enough to spur them into action. These emotions can persuade, convince, empathize, or amuse. Since you are not writing content for robots, don’t outsource your content or copy to AI tools.
Delivers Verbose Content
Redundant words, lack of coherence, and lengthy paragraphs without the proper flow of thoughts are the main downsides of AI writers. The early generations of these chatbots often ramble about topics, narrating things in circles and beating about the bush. You get the point.
With the short attention span of people today, lengthy sentences will only drive users away from your written content. Keep it concise, convincing, and captivating. These are the “basic Cs” of writing that AI tools have failed to master.
AI and the Future of Writing
The current prototypical AI writing tool is far from the finished product. While enthusiasts are already proclaiming it the future of content creation, detractors are pointing at its flaws to prove their point.
But the truth is this: AI content generators will take over very soon, and nothing can stop its marauding advance.
For starters, Microsoft is now working on a new version of Bing that incorporates ChatGPT. This tool can scour through thousands of pages to provide concise, accurate answers to search keywords, providing citations and references where necessary.
Undoubtedly, this feature will improve online search by aggregating the data into digestible chunks instead of opening every webpage individually.
Going forward, companies will rely on AI tools to create content for their users. When AI technology finally catches up with human behavior, the resulting content will offer a wide range of emotions—and ChatGPT is learning from us as we speak.
So what does this mean for writers? Adapt or die.
Instead of fighting the tech, embrace it and use it to your advantage. Use ChatGPT to get content ideas and dig yourself out of creativity slumps—power up your punctuation and delivery with Grammarly and Hemingway App.
And most importantly, learn how to use AI tools so that when the robots become our overlords, they will find you a worthy servant.
Final Words
AI tools have moved us from traditional content creation methods. If you write regularly, you should use these technological advancements to increase your writing output and quality. As Mike Gorman said, AI is the best thing since sliced bread. Rather than worry about your job security, think outside the box and allow these AI tools to be the servants they were designed to be.
Who wrote this?
Okoye Chisom specializes in Content Writing, Copywriting, and Content marketing. Aside from creating content and copies for brands and individuals, she runs a personal blog targeted toward young adults.
On other days, she can be found exploring her interest in Tech, Content strategy, storytelling, hosting events, and teaching. You can reach her on Linkedin.
We must come to realise that the World keep evolving, so rather than complain or beat up ourselves about the improvement in AI, let’s embrace and use it for our own advantage. The World keep evolving so should we.😎
Absolutely agree! You got the point. Thank you for leaving a comment.