AI is everywhere. If you have access to the internet, I'd bet a pretty penny you've heard of artificial intelligence and perhaps even know a bit about it. It seems like every other email in my inbox or post on my social feeds is about AI, and with good reason. With the advancement of AI and the way it applies to our society, it can be extremely helpful for a number of things, but it can also raise a lot of concerns—one of those concerns being job security. It's easy to look at all of the things artificial intelligence can do and wonder what that means for you and your career. This is especially significant for people with careers in the writing and editing industries. Now that we have robots that can do our work (allegedly—stick with me here), does anyone need us?? Does anyone want us? Yes, we are needed and wanted. For many reasons.
Cheaper Isn't Always Better
When I first launched my business, I had a few critics and skeptics shoot me down and remind me that cheap or free AI services can be used for ideation and editing...no one would want to pay me to be a copy editor or proofreader! And while that stung at first, it also made me think about all of the reasons why I started this business and why I have so much more to offer. This goes for all of you hardworking editors out there!! And for those of you not in the line of copyediting and proofreading, but the ones that need those services, I ask you to think twice before you go with the money-saving AI version of "editing."
Think about the last time you used a chatbot to write any kind of copy. If you've never done this, take a minute now to go play around with one. How does that copy look? How does it sound? In most cases it probably doesn't sound like it was written by a real human with real emotions and a real understanding for the intricacies that modern-day copy calls for. It's typically filled with flowery buzzwords that may sound pretty, but when it comes to resonating with an audience these words fall flat. The message doesn't allow for connection on a deeper level, and at the end of the day, that's how we keep clients—by forming connections. Not because we can produce or edit three thousand lines of copy at record speeds, but because we KNOW what our audience wants and we know how to convey that.
Connection = Engagement
When you lose the human touch in your copy, you lose a lot of engagement. And this translates to editing your copy, too. If AI writes content that doesn't really hit the mark and often needs a lot of editing anyway, why would you then use it to edit your already-written work? That seems counterproductive. Sure, it can catch typos and spelling errors; it can even fix basic grammar. But can it understand your writing style and brand voice? Can it evoke the emotions necessary to land with your ideal audience? Probably not. Teaming up with a skilled proofreader or copy editor will ensure that you are putting your audience first, and that's what really matters. It gives you the chance to form a partnership with someone who will consider your wants and needs, and the wants and needs of your reader. A chatbot can't do that.
So can you have your work edited by AI? Sure, it'll probably be free of spelling errors at least. And it's probably okay to use if you're in a pinch. But if you want your work to make an impact, you need to make an investment. That's where professional editors come in to help. AI isn't a human and therefore can't possibly offer the same genuine connection and support that you get from working with a trained professional, and that's what you're investing in when you hire a proofreader or copy editor—human understanding.
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