I gotta be honest…
The rate at which AI is not only being adapted by the masses, but also learning and growing is alarming.
Just a few months back, AI writers could barely string together a coherent sentence. AI designers could barely make a cohesive piece of artwork. Today, AI can write detailed stories — and create your new profile picture for your social media. In 6 months, they may have taken over the world already.
For years, I’ve supported AI. I even had my own dreams that I could train an AI bot to study every piece of writing I’ve done over the past 5 years—including the vast improvements I’ve made—so I could effectively clone myself, hire my AI writer to handle all my client work, and I could go live in Tahiti, away from the trivial and mundane problems of man.
Alas, I don’t think we’re heading in that direction. And I hope AI doesn’t weaponize itself and take over our feeble lil minds and bodies.
Before that happens… let’s talk about AI and why it will (or won’t) replace you.
If you’re a copywriter or a graphic designer, there’s a good chance the latest developments in AI are making you sweat bullets.
The rate of growth in their quality of “content” (if we can call it that) is impressive to say the least. And a little freaky to say the most.
It’s very likely that if you’re not a good copywriter, designer, or [enter another creative service here], then, well, yes, AI could replace you.
But if you’re even kind of good at what you do?
Your risk is minimal.
Let’s focus on the AI writing bots since I’m no designer (nor do I play one on TV):
As I said, 6 months ago, AI bots could barely string together coherent sentences. Today, they can. I’ve even thought about “hiring” an AI writing bot to write my first drafts to help reduce my workload… but methinks the editing I’d have to do will take longer than if I just wrote my own copy from scratch.
While AI writing bots can write coherently today, they’re missing crucial elements that makes copywriting and storytelling work:
Since AI writing bots (seemingly) lack the underlying emotions us humans have, good writers won’t have to fear.
In fact, if you give an AI bot an email angle, hook, or story idea there’s a good chance it will drown the page in information. But that information won’t necessarily be persuasive. In fact, I’d argue it can’t be persuasive because in order to be persuasive you must understand human emotions, which AI bots can’t.
(Lesson in there)
Same goes with designers.
I’ll give you a music related example:
When you’re recording music in a studio, you have complete control over everything. If you mess up a note or lyric, you can “punch” yourself in and fix your mistake. Same goes if you're out of rhythm.
But here’s the thing:
While this is a useful studio trick, which minimizes recording time to the umpteenth degree, if you rely on it too much, you run the risk of your music sounding too robotic.
That’s why even DJ’s (who have more control over the entire soundscape of their songs compared to, say, a band) will purposely add some rhythms that are slightly off beat. That’s why singers like Bob Dylan—who is far from the best singer to grace anyone’s ears—became as famous and celebrated as he has.
These “mistakes” make us human. They showcase a performer’s emotions. And they force visceral reactions inside people listening along.
And so it is with writing.
Moral of the story?
If you’re good at what you do, you have no reason to fear AI (until it level ups enough to become a threat to humanity as we know it).
But if you’re bad at what you do?
You better start improving yesterday, or AI might force you out of a job.
Anywho:
Need a human copywriter with a track record of making emotional connections to audiences and skyrocketing every bank account I come in contact with?
John