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I see this question every week.
But it's the wrong question.
Asking if you should use AI as a writer is like asking if you should use a stovetop as a chef.
Technically, a chef can cook everything over an open-fire.
But cooking with a stovetop is incredibly helpful, and time-saving... When you know how to use it.
Just like using a stove-top allows chefs to be more creative and consistent in their cooking, using Ai allows you to be more creative and consistent in your writing - IF (and only if) you know how to use it.
To answer the question above directly:
For most people, the answer is no... (didn't expect that did you?)
Most writers should NOT use Ai in their writing - because most people don't know how to use it.
(Putting raw food directly onto a stovetop expecting it to cook the food, without turning on the stovetop, using a pan, or oil, or... yeah.. It just won't work...
This is how most people are "using" Ai - putting an idea into the Ai model, and expecting it to come out perfectly...)
Want to learn how to use Ai?
I gottchu - keep reading.
At this time, AI is not at a place where it can replace you as a writer.
But it can take someone who has an expertise and knows how to write and, make their writing easier and faster.
If Ai isn't going to replace me... how do I view it?
This one sentence will put you ahead of 99% of people playing with Ai:
Ai is not an expert... But an eager intern.
There are 3 implications for this:
1. Not all Ai models are equal.
Every person has different skill sets.
Similarly, each AI model has different skill sets.
Some models are better for data-gathering and spreadsheets and coding, while others are better for writing.
2. Ai is fresh out of college...
Just like an intern who's fresh out of college, AI knows a lot of technical info... but doesn't know how to prioritize or interpret the info.
They have a lot of width, but not depth.
This means you have to be incredibly specific in your prompts.
If you make any assumptions, the AI model will underperform.
Just like training an intern, if you are not specific and clear on what you want done, why you want it done, and how you want it done, mistakes will be made.
3. Context matters
Just like an eager intern, Ai's can get lost if you give them too much information.
If you tell AI to research a topic, then come up with five topic ideas, then pick one to write about, then write three headlines, then pick the best one, and then write an article about that topic using that headline... it will fail.
AI models, just like interns, do their best work when you give them one task at a time.
And then based on the results of that task, you perform a separate second task or you have them redo the first task with new direction to get better results...
There's a lot more to Ai... But these 3 principles will get you ahead of 99% of people who play with Ai.
