Copywriters and AI – friends, foes or the perfect pair?

ChatGPT seems to be all anyone can talk about in the content and copywriting world lately, and for good reason. In the words of “Anchorman” Ron Burgundy, it’s kind of a big deal.

Such a big deal that there’s even a new app designed to combat the potential misuse of ChatGPT.

Ryan Reynolds recently referred to the technology behind ChatGPT as “mildly terrifying, but compelling.” He’s not wrong, but I prefer to focus on the “compelling” piece.

Copywriters who embrace AI as a tool may find it’s helpful for ideation, busting through dreaded writer’s block like the Kool-Aid Man and SEO.

Personally, I’ve had mixed results.

I’ve found AI to be most helpful when my creative cylinders outright refuse to fire, and I’m feeling stuck. Time that was previously spent staring blankly at my screen, hoping for inspiration to strike, can now be spent running prompts through AI tools and having a brainstorming session … with a robot. (Though I much prefer a brainstorming sesh with an actual human). This speeds up the initial stages of the writing process and ultimately saves time. Can’t complain about that.

Other times, my AI results have been stiff, too formulaic, mediocre or just plain boooooring. Of course, as a writer, I’m going to be extra critical (read: judge-y 🤨) when it comes to tools like this.

If I had to sum up my thoughts on AI copywriting tools in two words, I’d say, “helpful, but …”

☑️ Helpful, but they can’t capture the nuance, personality and unique details of a meaningful conversation with a client.

☑️ Helpful, but the results should absolutely be fact-checked against other sources.

☑️ Helpful, but AI still needs a human brain to optimize and deliver the most value.

By joining forces, copywriters and AI tools can make for a powerful pairing that will take your 2023 content strategy to the next level. 🚀