How I Used AI to Write a LinkedIn Article

In an ironic twist of events, I recently used the new ChatGPT-4 with Canvas (a tool that allows for dynamic content creation, collaboration, and editing in an interactive interface) to help me write an article about the limitations of AI coding assistants. It felt like stepping into a meta-layer of creativity—using AI to comment on AI’s capabilities or lack thereof. The experience was enlightening, and I want to share it as an example of where we are with AI technology today.

### The Process

The process started with a simple idea: AI coding tools have potential, but they aren’t fully ready for prime time yet, especially for new developers. I wanted to write an article that would communicate this to my LinkedIn audience—a mix of tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and developers. So, I turned to ChatGPT-4 with Canvas (yes, the same one I was planning to critique) to help me draft the piece.

The AI-generated content formed the skeleton of my argument. It suggested structuring the article by laying out where AI works, where it falls apart, and what neophytes need to know about using AI in coding. I was able to add my personal anecdotes and refine the core message based on my own experience. In the end, the AI helped create an article that was clear, concise, and on point.

### My Role as a Human Collaborator

While the AI was instrumental in drafting the content, I played a critical role as the collaborator. I added real-world examples—like how I once used AI to generate a prototype for a client but found it lacking during the more complex stages of the project. These stories added depth and context that the AI alone couldn’t provide.

The AI could help draft, iterate, and polish, but as I mentioned in the article itself, AI coding is only halfway to maturity. Human insight was essential for weaving in nuance, context, and lived experience.

### Reflections on AI in Writing and Coding

This process also highlighted some of the challenges I discussed in the original article. AI can assist and automate the drafting process, making it faster to get from zero to the first draft. But the core ideas, the real experience, and the nuanced argument came from me. Much like AI coding tools can get you to 60% of a project, AI writing tools are excellent at getting the basics down, but they still need a human touch to reach completion.

Interestingly, I also used ChatGPT-4 with Canvas to generate an illustration to accompany the article. Using the DALL-E tool, I created an image that visualizes the collaboration between human creativity and AI assistance. The generated image adds a nice visual touch, emphasizing the partnership between me and the AI in composing the content. The generated image adds a nice visual touch, but again, it was up to me to guide the prompt and choose something appropriate for my audience.

### So, Is AI Ready for Prime Time?

In writing this article, I came away with a reinforced belief: AI is a great assistant, but it’s not yet an independent creator. It accelerates the process, makes suggestions, and helps overcome writer's block. But the final product—something insightful, relatable, and with real impact—still requires human intuition and craftsmanship.

So, for those of us who are curious about leveraging AI to create content, there’s a lot of potential. Just be aware: AI will get you far, but you’ll still need to bring it home.

### Hashtags

#AIAssistedWriting #AIinContentCreation #LinkedInArticles #AIandHumans #WritingWithAI #TechInnovation #FutureOfContent #AIProgress #HumanTouch #EmpoweredGuru #AIWriting