Will AI Replace Creative Writers?
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Writers all over the world are in a panic, wondering, “Will AI replace creative writers?” It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI)—especially generative AI—is rapidly advancing and its uses are becoming more widespread. But with the increasing prevalence of AI, writers and creatives are feeling (rightfully) insecure about the future of their passions and livelihoods. This article will explore multiple sides to the complex issue of “Will AI replace creative writers?”
Will AI Replace Creative Writers? The Pros of Generative AI
Writers the world over are thinking: Should I panic? Will AI replace creative writers?
Generative AI has the potential to completely revolutionize the writing industry by creating content faster and more precisely than ever before. The language models behind a lot of generative AI have already proven their ability to create writing that reads very much like human-created material. It’s actually stunning how the field has advanced, and it will only continue to do so. No wonder everyone’s wondering will AI replace creative writers.
The “special sauce” of these AI models is that they can take data-driven insights from large amounts of sources—be it market research, customer surveys, or online reviews—and quickly generate copy tailored to specific audiences, in specific tones, using information that would take a long time to research. There are also generative AI models for creative writing and storytelling.
Additionally, generative AI can be used to create copy even when there is limited input content. Instead of having to start from scratch, a writer can use pre-existing material as a jumping off point to create something new and original, which is a great use of generative AI for everyone, even those on the fence about tools like ChatGPT.
Will AI Replace Creative Writers? The Cons of Generative AI
Will AI replace creative writers seamlessly and instantly, though? And what about idea and story generation? Here’s where it gets tricky … and reassuring for writers. While generative AI does have some incredible benefits, there are also some major drawbacks that must be taken into account when discussing its potential uses in creative writing.
For starters, generative AI lacks nuance and emotion. It can replicate it, but a lot of material created with generative AI—especially creative writing material that seeks to explore the human experience—falls flat. In order for an audience to connect with any piece of content, it must be relatable and evoke real feelings in readers. In other words, readers have to care.
While computers may be capable of understanding language on some level, and using that language to communicate ideas clearly, they still lack the human capability to interpret what's said between the lines—for example, subtext and nuance.
Furthermore, generative AI relies heavily on data points that the AI model was trained on. Famously, certain models of ChatGPT are not versed with any current events that have happened since 2021, or when the original learning inputs happened. If those data points are inaccurate or outdated, the resulting copy might fall flat.
There’s also the issue of AI regulation. As of this writing, US copyright is not granted to non-human produced written work. That’s less incentive to create whole novels with generative AI, for example, as they do not have copyright protection, nor can they be exploited as successfully.
Sure, AI companies are quickly working on their models and innovations are happening every day. That being said, will AI replace creative writers? Not for a while, and maybe not ever.
Remember that AI is only as good as the prompt it is given. Learning how to give commands to AI is even more important than getting an output from AI. The nuance and skill to command the AI, so far, is a human talent. AI has not yet learned how to command itself, nor might it ever. (Herein lies the worry about AI on a larger scale.)
So Will AI Replace Creative Writers?
Ultimately, the answer to the question of will AI replace creative writers is impossible to know, given where the technology is at this moment. Much depends on how far technology advances and how comfortable people become with relying on machines for their content needs. In the realm of creative writing, human writers are safer. Nonfiction writers will have to be more nimble and agile, as a lot of SEO, marketing copy, and nonfiction posts and articles are already getting infiltrated by generative AI.
In any case, one thing remains certain: writers who understand the complexities behind machine learning and artificial intelligence will remain invaluable in the age of automated writing solutions. Regardless of what you believe in the “Will AI replace creative writers?” debate, becoming educated about its possibilities—and limitations—is essential in today’s digital world.
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