The Brave New World of AI

No doubt, AI writing tools are amazing.

The other day, using ChatGPT, I was able to put together a first draft of copy for a topic that I know very little about. The tool saved me days of research and after polishing the copy, humanized it a little, and my little side project was done. It was more like getting an assist versus acting as a replacement for the process of copywriting.

That said, there was still something missing.

Our ability to find humanity in our tone is something that only comes with emotional understanding. The subtle nuances, the knowing of a target audience’s pain points — those types of intangibles just weren’t captured in AI’s copy. There is something magical about banging away on the keyboard and crafting a sentence, articulating an idea, conveying an emotion, or weaving in a layer of context. Although AI is good, it is still missing what the human brain is highly skilled at doing: making connections not just between data points, but between experiences. Incorporating life’s many textures is an essential process of learning as is our ability to use critical thinking. Algorithms can’t do that. At least not yet.

Of course, I wanted to know AI’s “opinion”, so I asked, “Is it better to write manually or use AI"?”

AI’s answer: “Well, that depends. Are you looking for a leisurely stroll through the park, or a high-speed rollercoaster ride to your destination? Manual writing offers a more personal touch, while AI can provide lightning-fast results. Choose your adventure!”

So even AI seems to know that’s it’s missing the human touch.

We we boldly go forth into our brave new world, we should remember we are the owners of our culture and social context, our experiences, and emotions. That makes us magnificent in a way an algorithm will never know.