What Writers Need to Know about AI

In just a short time, AI has changed the way we live and work. Whether through algorithmically selected video and music suggestions or through targeted ads on social media, AI has woven itself into our daily lives.

Similarly, generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot are changing the way we do work as writers. While initially this can seem like an intimidating change, when used correctly, AI can improve the writing process. Here are four things you should know about how AI and writing interact.

Large Language Models (LLMs) Are Writing Assistants

Large Language Models (LLM) are large networks of machine learning that predict the next word or partial word. LLMs lie at the heart of this shift to AI-integrated writing. You've likely noticed this predictive text when typing out a text message on your phone or when searching something in Google. In a more complex format, AOE can use this in the writing of copy or marketing material as well.

Because LLMs guess what you would like to write, they serve as writing assistants, not writers themselves. This is an important distinction. LLMs can be used to plan, edit, research, simplify, summarize, and personalize your writing to the audience of your choice, but they should not be used in place of human writers. This is where the AOE experts come in. AOE knows how to work with LLMs to take some of the busy work out of the writing process and allows the focus to be on what we do best: writing.

There Is an Art to Prompting

A prompt refers to the set of instructions you give a generative AI tool when you want it to create content for you. The way you prompt AI will determine how effective the content you receive will be.

You can learn the skill of prompting. Here are a few things to take into consideration when prompting.

• Talk to the AI program naturally.

• Tell it its role and what you need from it.

• Give it examples to draw from.

• Define its audience.

If you do not know all the details of the piece you are trying to create, feel free to leave out any of this information and let the AI fill it in. It takes experience with AI to learn effective prompting, so keep trying!

It Pays to Adopt and Adapt Early

The field of AI writing is changing rapidly. As an early adopter of AI, you can stand at the forefront of this developing landscape.

One of the important roles you can play in the adoption of generative AI is helping to craft the AI policy for your organization. AI policies define who owns AI-generated content, stipulate the declarations of AI use, and set the boundaries around tools, legal matters, privacy issues and security risks.

Consider the following questions when creating an AI policy:

• Are employees allowed to use AI-generated content?

• Do employees need to disclose when they use AI?

• Which AI tools are acceptable?

• How can you lower security and legal risks?

Consider, discuss and turn questions like these into organizational policy so there is no confusion among employees about how they should use AI. Organizations that have policies like these in place will remain ahead of the game. AOE has also constructed its own AI policy that covers all work it creates for any organization.

Human Writers Are Still Necessary

Finally, for all its novel advancements, AI cannot synthesize human experience. It cannot substitute the unique, intimate character of personal storytelling. Therefore, the essence of writing is and will remain human.

People read opinion pieces and similar articles to engage with the thoughts of others. Because of this, as AI-generated content increases, articles written by humans will become more valuable.

Writing and storytelling are and always will be uniquely human. At the end of the day, writers write and readers read to feel connected to another person's point of view.

AI offers the chance to improve the writing process, but it can never replace the writer. It allows the focus to remain on the creative process which is where it should be. The thoughts and writing from a human are important and unique. AI just offers a way to polish them.

If you want to learn more about how AI can serve your business and how AOE uses AI to streamline functions, reach out to AOE today and talk with our team of AI experts.