Emerging AI Technologies And Their Impact on Freelance Writing
By Mwebe Morgan
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the digital magician who conjures spells in the invisible world of code. The emergence of AI has greatly impacted the freelance writing industry.
In 2023, a text developed by artificial intelligence misled human judges into believing a human wrote it. That’s how fast this AI stuff is evolving.
I’m the type who rolls my eyes at those over-the-top product descriptions. You know, the ones that make a water bottle sound like it’ll change your life. So, as an experiment, I tested out one of those hyped-up AI copywriting tools.
I fed the AI basic specs about a hideous, oversized neon green fishing tackle box. I fed in the dimensions, number of compartments, etc.) and added a note: “Target audience: Anglers who like to be seen from space.”
I expected a generic mess, but I got this:
“Dominate the waters with the Big, the Bold, and the Blind-Your-Enemies Green Tackle Box. This bad boy isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for anglers who own their space, claim their catch, and refuse to let a single fish doubt their questionable taste in color.”
I laughed hilariously. It was cheesy, sure, but surprisingly on-point. That is the power of AI, but can it take out the work of writers?
All right, buckle up, folks, ’cause today we’re ditching the lovey-dovey AI hype and diving into the nitty-gritty: how those freaky-smart algorithms are poised to shake up the freelance writing world.
Let’s dive in.
Spoiler alert: It’s not about robots snatching your gigs. But this tech is game-changing.
What are AI writing assistants? Your (kinda) helpful sidekicks.
Remember when Grammarly arrived and blew our minds? Well, hold onto your keyboards ’cause things are about to get weird.
It is anticipated that the market for generative AI will expand steadily between 10 and 20 percent until 2030, when it will begin to decline. This comes after a startling 100% rise from 2021 to 2023.
Source: Statista 2024
AI tools like Jasper.ai, ChatGPT, Rytr, Anyword, getaicollective, neural writer, etc. are going way beyond fixing typos.
Here’s a brief rundown of those AI content generation tools, focusing on their key features and strengths:
- Specializes in crafting marketing-focused copy.
- Offers templates for everything from Facebook ads to product descriptions.
- Long-form content assistant helps with blog posts and articles.
- Integrates with Surfer SEO for search engine optimization.
- A highly conversational chatbot with an impressive ability to understand and respond to complex prompts.
- Can generate creative text formats (poems, code, scripts, etc.)
- Useful for brainstorming, research summaries, and translation tasks.
- Excel at short-form copy, with templates for social media posts, taglines, and email subject lines.
- Affordable pricing, making it accessible for casual users.
- Offers a range of tones to match your brand personality.
- A data-driven approach that focuses heavily on generating copy that converts.
- Analyze existing content to suggest improvements for higher clicks and engagement.
- Predictive performance scoring to see how well different text variations might perform.
- It focuses on long-form content, offering AI-assisted blog post creation.
- It helps with ideation, outlining, SEO optimization, and even finding royalty-free images.
- Emphasizes generating original, high-quality content rather than just keyword-stuffed output.
- Powerful SEO focus, aiming to create search-engine-friendly content.
- Includes keyword analysis tools alongside its content generation capabilities.
- Offers a “content optimizer” to improve existing pieces for better ranking.
Important to note: The AI writing tool landscape is constantly evolving! Always do your research to compare features and pricing before committing to a subscription.
How does artificial intelligence affect freelance writing?
Here’s a taste of what these AI buddies can do:
“Once upon a cursor, in the pixelated halls of freelance writing, a scribe sat hunched over a keyboard. Their quill? Not feathered, but silicon-charged.”
1. The Productivity Scroll:
- The Quill of Efficiency: AI-powered writing tools can now whisper secrets — grammar checks, sentence restructuring, and content generation.
- The Sands of Time: Tasks that once drained hours from the writers now bow to AI’s swift wand. Formatting, keyword research, and data analysis — all automated, like clockwork.
- The Ink of Creativity: Freed from mundane chores, the scribe’s mind soars in the sky. Ideas flow like rivers, unburdened by syntax and typos.
“Dear freelancer,” the AI murmured, “your productivity blooms. Use your newfound hours wisely.”
2. The Grammar Golem: AI-Enhanced Quality
“In the moonlit chambers of editing, a weary writer faced a parchment stained with red ink. Typos, like mischievous imps, danced across the lines.”
The Golem’s Whisper:
- Syntax Sorcery: AI algorithms scanned sentences, catching dangling participles and misplaced modifiers. The writer’s prose stands taller, shoulders square.
- Spelling Enchantment: No more “teh” instead of “the.” The Golem corrected, its eyes glowing with lexical wisdom.
- Tone Alchemy: “Too formal,” Golem tweeted. “Add a dash of wit.” The writer obeyed, and readers nodded in approval.
“Listen,” the Golem intoned, “quality is your wand. Wield it well.”
3. The Oracle of Topic Suggestions: AI’s Whisper in the Tavern
“In the bustling marketplace of ideas, a writer sat, a mug of inspiration in hand. But what to brew? The well ran dry.”
The Oracle’s Prophecy:
- The Algorithmic Brew: AI analyzed trends, peeking into the cauldron of search queries. “Write about quantum quokkas,” it said. “The masses seek quirk.”
- The Potion of Relevance: “Blend humor,” the Oracle advised. “Sprinkle with relatable anecdotes.” The writer stirred, and readers chuckled.
- The Scroll of SEO: “Keywords,” the Oracle chanted. “Sprinkle them like stardust.” The writer obeyed, and Google’s gates swung open.
- Brainstorming Bonanza: Stuck for ideas? Bam! An AI can spit out blog topics, headlines, and even whole outlines. (Remember, you’re still a creative genius.)
- Research Shortcuts: Need some stats about content marketing? Your friendly AI might not replace Google, but it can summarize those search results way faster.
Will AI take away freelance writing jobs?
You might still be worried that AI will continue to improve as time goes on, but it likely can never replicate human creation processes exactly. So, am I out of a job? No! Not yet!
Here’s the deal: AI still stinks at understanding nuance, emotion, and storytelling—the heart of what makes a writer good. And good clients? They crave that human touch, that distinct voice only you can nail.
Unlike AI content, freelance writers map the nuances of the human experience. They weave emotions, smells, and tastes into their tales. Imagine this:
“The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the sleepy village. Children laughed, chasing emerald fireflies in the serene meadow. Old Mrs. Jenkins rocked on her moth-eaten porch, her eyes crinkling with memories. It was a scene straight from a storybook — a moment suspended in time.”
Compare the above human touch to this AI-generated tale,
“The sun dipped below the horizon, its warm glow enveloping the quiet village. In the meadow, children laughed and darted after fireflies, their tiny bodies illuminated by the soft, golden light. Old Mrs. Jenkins, seated on her weathered porch, rocked gently back and forth, her eyes crinkling with memories of days long past. It was a scene straight from a forgotten storybook—a fleeting moment suspended in the amber embrace of twilight.”
Another great example is editing and proofreading. No AI, however good, can edit text, giving it that human touch and precision. AI can only help an editor in redlining grammar, syntax, and lexical errors.
Can freelance writers win over AI?
There are niches where AI struggles, for example,
1. Mastering a niche or niching down:
High-complexity industries or technical fields: Special fields like engineering, biotech, law, etc. require deep subject matter knowledge and nuanced language that AI is still years away from mastering.
Thought leadership: Sharing unique insights, analysis, and experience-driven opinions is inherently human. AI can summarize data, but it can’t offer fresh perspectives.
Expression of the creative process: From fiction writers to poets to humor columnists, these niches rely on a distinct voice and understanding of human emotion that AI can’t quite imitate. Crafting narratives that engage, persuade, and sell is a timeless skill. AI can structure a piece, but it won’t find the emotional hook.
“Hyper-Local” Focus: Where serving businesses in a specific geographic region builds on relationships and insider knowledge that a generic AI can’t replicate.
2. Understanding your audience deeply:
Clients often crave the collaborative experience—the back-and-forth with a real person who understands their goals intimately—something AI can’t provide (yet!).
Example: A freelance medical writer with years of healthcare experience will always beat an AI when writing correct, authoritative content about complex medical procedures.
Example: A copywriter who has interviewed the ideal clients for a luxury skincare brand can craft messaging that resonates on an emotional level, something an AI still struggles to replicate.
Example: A savvy freelance writer might use AI to generate headlines, then choose the most creative one as a starting point, saving time but still leading the process.
Example: Humans excel at finding those unique angles. If a business survives a fire, a skilled writer weaves that into a compelling narrative about resilience, something an algorithm isn’t programmed to do.
There are more areas where freelance writers excel over AI writing, such as:
3. Interviewing Finesse:
Freelance writers are excellent at drawing out information and building rapport, positions requiring interviews (case studies, profiles, etc.).
4. Audience Empathy:
Freelance writers are intimate experts in the needs, desires, and pain points of certain audiences. AI is capable of data analysis, but it is unable to understand the motivations behind the data.
How do AI tools help freelance writers?
Like skilled alchemists, freelance writers combine the magic of artificial intelligence with their trade. AI technologies are merely additional resources for freelance writers, not adversaries. AI tools can never replace a writer’s expertise and creativity.
Freelance writers can utilize AI technologies to enhance productivity and improve job quality. Additionally, AI writing tools help authors identify fresh prospects. Here’s how:
Getting Past Writer’s Block and Idea Generation
- Idea Generation: If you’re staring at a blank page, AI tools can suggest blog topics, headlines, and even entire outlines based on your niche.
- Overcoming Perfectionism: AI-generated first drafts can break the ice, giving you a less intimidating starting point to edit and improve upon.
- Repurposing Content: Feed your old blog posts to an AI tool and ask it to summarize the key points or transform them into social media snippets.
Research and Information Gathering
- Summarizing Lengthy Articles: Upload research papers or competitor websites and have the AI summarize the main takeaways, saving you hours of reading.
- Fact-Checking: While not 100% foolproof, some AI tools can help verify claims and flag potentially incorrect information.
- Language Assistance: Translate content into another language for a wider audience, or get help rephrasing complex ideas in a more accessible way.
Editing and Optimization
- Basic Proofreading: While you should never rely on AI, it can catch typos and simple grammar errors you might miss in a final sweep.
- SEO Enhancements: Use AI-powered tools to suggest relevant keywords and analyze how well your content aligns with search intent.
- Readability Analysis: Improve the clarity and flow of your writing with AI-based readability scores and suggestions.
Increasing Productivity on Low-Value Assignments
- Product Descriptions: For basic, factual e-commerce descriptions, AI can generate a solid starting point, freeing up your time for more creative work.
- Social Media Captions: Get AI-written “seeds” for your posts, then personalize them with your brand voice and insights.
- Outlining: Have AI generate a basic blog post outline, focusing your writing session and ensuring you have missed no key points.
Important Considerations
Beware of plagiarism: AI-generated content can sometimes pull too heavily from its source material. Use plagiarism checkers and always rephrase for originality.
Choose your tools wisely: Research which AI tools are best for specific tasks (ideation, SEO analysis, etc.) Free trials are your friend!
Bottom Line
Change is scary, but see it as an opportunity. Think of AI as a tool in your writing arsenal, not the enemy. If you keep improving, focus on those irreplaceable human skills, and embrace the weirdness. This AI wave isn’t gonna wipe you out. It might just give your freelance business the boost it needs. AI incorporation has completely transformed the writing process into freelance writing. Freelance writers produce high-quality material with fewer errors, expedite their writing processes, and enhance productivity.
Now get out there and write stuff only a human can!
What do you think, folks? Are you worried about AI stealing your writing gigs, or ready to embrace it? Share your thoughts in the comments!
