A slate of writing instruments powered by synthetic intelligence (AI) have lately made headlines as a brand new and simpler strategy to produce content material. Most tech corporations have even been implementing AI into their very own instruments as effectively, like we did earlier this yr after we launched our AI assistant.
I’ve written about my conflicted emotions about these very AI writing instruments, however I’ve been making an effort to push previous my hesitation and add AI into the articles I write for the Buffer weblog. The hope was that by doing so, I might velocity up my writing course of.
So, regardless of my preliminary resistance, I went forward and used AI when outlining and drafting weblog posts. Right here’s what two weeks of incorporating AI seemed like and the way my ideas on AI writing instruments have modified.
When it got here to selecting which AI instruments to make use of, I opted for comfort. I’m continually working in Notion and use it for outlining weblog posts, so it was very straightforward for me to include their lately launched instrument, Notion AI, into my planning.
Since we lately added Buffer’s AI assistant into our product, I’ve additionally been experimenting extra with this function and sometimes have the instrument open throughout the work day so I can simply simply change over to our concepts part and write. I didn’t use different extra common instruments like ChatGPT as a result of fairly than studying the best way to use a brand new product, I wished one thing that I might seamlessly embed into my current arsenal of instruments.
I used to be solely utilizing these instruments for outlining and brainstorming functions. I by no means prompted the AI to put in writing out a full weblog publish for me, however as a substitute simply requested it questions to assist me generate concepts and assist construct out the article. All through the course of two weeks, I ended up utilizing AI for:
- Outlines
- Interview questions
- Solutions for titles
- Brainstorming introductions
Proper off the bat, I might shortly define varied subjects shortly with AI. Whereas I used to be nonetheless writing my very own outlines, I used to be in a position to fill them out a lot quicker than common. To make clear, I by no means prompted the AI to “write an overview.” As an alternative, I simply requested questions on my matter to see the important thing factors it will generate. This actually helped as a result of generally when beginning out a brand new publish, I can have a bout of author’s block and utilizing AI primarily mounted that.
For instance, when it got here to my article on LinkedIn analytics, I used AI to assist with the order of the publish in addition to among the details in every part. I did the identical factor when refreshing certainly one of our older posts on Instagram Story templates, as I up to date the introduction and used AI to run via completely different variations.
I additionally discovered that these writing instruments had been an effective way to spice up my productiveness after I was behind on work. At some point particularly, I used to be feeling below the climate and took a half-day. The following morning, I used to be scheduled to have an interview with a TikToker about model offers, and was in a position to generate an inventory of ten considerate questions in seconds with AI. Whereas I did edit and tailor the questions to raised match my interviewee, this was an enormous assist at a second after I actually wanted it.
Total, it felt like brainstorming was simpler due to AI. Writing is usually a solitary act for me, so it was good to have a sounding board to bounce concepts off of.
As I began utilizing AI writing instruments extra, I started to concede that AI truly can produce fairly respectable content material. Nonetheless, the one primary subject I nonetheless have is that the writing isn’t at all times correct. Like when it gave me the flawed listing of steps after I requested it the best way to activate LinkedIn Creator mode.
Equally, after I used it for my article on Instagrams collab posts function, the AI stored complicated the function with the precise act of collaboration. So, it was as a substitute giving me solutions about how folks might collaborate with one another on Instagram, which wasn’t the precise matter of the piece. I attempted to redirect it just a few instances with no luck. However I could must work on my prompting expertise. My colleagues Tami and Phil wrote concerning the significance of good AI prompts and why including context is important when asking the AI to provide work.
Even after I obtained again the precise outcomes, I wasn’t at all times proud of the ultimate copy. As a content material author myself, I personally felt just like the writing high quality from these instruments was good, however not nice, and that I wanted to edit it or spruce it up.
One other subject I had was that oftentimes the copy felt fairly repetitive. Whether or not it was the AI repeating the identical phrase over once more or simply the sentiment, this was a reminder that AI is solely regurgitating every thing that has already been written earlier than. Though that may generally make for respectable copy, it’s not unique and groundbreaking work. For this reason actual writers and their efforts ought to nonetheless be valued.
In the end, these instruments didn’t actually save me that a lot time ultimately. Whereas it was tremendous useful earlier than my interview, for probably the most half I discovered that both I might nonetheless should appropriate the AI or rewrite the work.
With that being stated, I nonetheless discovered the AI helpful. Earlier than these two weeks, I wasn’t very snug integrating these instruments into my on a regular basis work routine, however now I plan to make use of them sometimes. Whereas I personally don’t really feel like I would like these instruments on an on a regular basis foundation, I acknowledge the advantages of utilizing them on days I really feel particularly blocked.
In case you’re additionally thinking about experimenting with AI, join Buffer free of charge and check out our AI assistant immediately!
