Title: Woman Shares How AI Tools Improved Her Writing but Cost Her a Job
For a considerable period, experts have been discussing the potential impact of AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, and others on the jobs of content writers. While these concerns have some merit, it is crucial to recognize that AI tools always require human guidance. Interestingly, some writers are already using AI tools to enhance their writing without the intention of plagiarizing. However, it is worth noting that a few of these writers have faced job loss when their employers discovered their use of AI tools in the content creation process.
Marketing professional and freelance writer Tina Sendin recently shared her experience of utilizing AI to assist with her workload on Business Insider. She had taken on a three-month project from a long-term client that involved crafting numerous how-to guides and articles. Overwhelmed with the workload, she turned to AI for a solution.
Sendin used a tool called Jasper.ai, leveraging its pre-built templates and various features to overcome writer’s block and quickly produce long-form articles. The AI tool would generate most of the content, requiring only minimal edits from her.
However, her client eventually discovered that the articles were AI-generated when they employed an AI-content detector. As a consequence, they terminated their agreement and reduced her payment from the original fee.
This incident made Sendin realize that AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a replacement for human effort. She acknowledged that she should have communicated her use of AI with her client from the start.
Learning from this experience, Sendin now approaches AI differently in her work. When starting projects with new clients, she openly discusses the usage of AI writing tools and respects their preferences. She now relies on AI to enhance her drafts rather than relying on it entirely. Once she finishes drafting an article, she employs AI tools to improve and maintain her client’s desired tone of voice.
Additionally, Sendin finds AI helpful for generating ideas, aiding in source research, providing statistics, and condensing large volumes of text. Nonetheless, she treats the output from AI as suggestions and diligently fact-checks the information. She noted that AI has significantly reduced her writing time, enabling her to take on more assignments. Furthermore, she believes that clear and specific prompts yield better AI outputs.
Despite her initial concerns and losing a client due to AI, Sendin now recognizes its value as a tool that improves her writing efficiency and saves time. She emphasizes the importance of understanding and purposefully using AI. She noted that although AI is still in its early stages, early adopters of new technology often reap the rewards. Sendin will continue to learn and adapt to AI, optimizing her workflow.
In conclusion, Tina Sendin’s experience highlights the potential benefits and pitfalls of utilizing AI tools as a content writer. While AI can enhance writing efficiency and aid in various aspects of the content creation process, it is crucial to maintain open communication with clients and treat AI as a supplementary tool rather than a complete replacement. By understanding and purposefully using AI, writers can optimize their workflow and deliver high-quality content in a timely manner.
