Not So Fast, ChatGPT. Human Copywriters (And Law Students) Still Got You?Beat

“While AI has advanced greatly in recent years and can generate text, there are several reasons why human writers are still considered better.”

The above sentence was spat out by ChatGPT when I inputted “Why human writers are better than AI.” I guess it’s an OK sentence, aside from some unnecessary words and the passive voice. Had I written it, it would read something like this:

Can a robot pass the Bar Exam? If so, could it represent you in a court of law should, God Forbid, you find yourself in some legal hot water?

Or would you rather have a human attorney plead your case to a jury of your peers?

Now, I’ve already done something that an AI writer can’t do: Clearly understand human attention span and emotions and how to ask a thought-provoking question.

Of course, asking ChatCPT how to write a thought-provoking question will give you a how-to list based on algorithms. However, it cannot truly understand what evokes human thought, as all humans think differently.

The language optimizer’s response also included emotional words such as “encourage,” “meaningful,” “genuine curiosity,” and “excitement.”

Ah! Another thing AI can’t do: Feel. It doesn’t know the true meaning and emotion behind encouraging, meaningful, and exciting words that pique one’s curiosity.

It can give you a definition, but it doesn’t know what it’s like to feel a certain way. If it could, then it would be able to produce content that can connect with a broader audience on a deeper emotional level.

From a content marketing perspective, brands must create that connection and engagement with their audience to increase brand awareness, loyalty, sales, revenue, and profitability.

A chatbot can’t do that, even if its human creators input (yes, AI still requires human intervention) catchy or cutesie copy to make it seem more, well, human.

“Barry” doesn’t know or care if Michael is enjoying the weather in sunny San Diego. But I bet Michael feels a little more warm and fuzzy with the personal touch, especially if “Barry” understood Michael’s question and quickly helped him save and log out.

It’s ironic how writers fear being replaced by AI when human writers are needed to create the content an AI writer or chatbot spits out. Worry not, my fellow scribes. You still have some job security based on this fact alone. AI can’t write itself… yet.

Furthermore, ChapGPT only got a C+ on school law school exams and was near the bottom of the class in most subjects. It also failed miserably at multiple-choice questions involving mathematics.

I would too. I suck at math, but seemingly, so does the world’s hottest new AI platform, so I don’t feel so bad.

It also is challenged with statistics. For example, when I asked ChatGPT about the number of cyber attacks in 2022, I got: “I’m sorry, I do not have the exact number of cyber attacks that occurred in the United States in 2022 as my training data only goes up until 2021.”

Its creators are a year behind in data, which is somewhat negligent for such futuristic technology.

For the record, the number of cyber-attacks recorded last year was nearly two-fifths (38%) greater than the total volume observed in 2021, according to Check Point Software. Thank you, Google.

Proof that human writers with research prowess are also still a necessity. Brands often require good statistics to bolster their position, messaging, and key selling points.

Does ChatGPT believe human writers are better than AI writers?

I asked, and here’s what it said:

“There are several reasons why human writers are still considered better:

1. Emotion and empathy: Human writers can understand and convey emotions and empathy, which is crucial in storytelling and building connections with readers.
2. Contextual understanding: Human writers have a deep understanding of human behavior, culture, and societal norms, which enables them to create content that resonates with their audience.
3. Creativity: Human writers can think creatively and develop new ideas, which sets them apart from AI, which is limited by its training data.
4. Adaptability: Human writers can adapt their writing style to fit different audiences and situations, whereas AI is limited to its pre-defined parameters.

In conclusion, while AI can generate text, it still lacks the creativity, empathy, and contextual understanding that makes human writers unique.”

I couldn’t agree with it more, and BONUS! I didn’t have to spend time writing it. I did edit it, as there were a number of typos and grammar errors — things Mr. Smarty Pants ChatGPT didn’t catch.

AI writing tools have their strengths, but they can’t wholly replace good ole manual prose pros.

I use AI as a meta-tool that augments, complements, and expedites the writing process. It’s an external resource, a writing assistant or partner, if you will. It can offer inspiration when in the throes of writer’s block or be your North Star when mapping out an article, essay, or blog post.

However, it should not be your sole source of content creation. You shouldn’t depend on it to create your content accurately, authentically, or correctly. So, if you are using AI, make sure you proofread and edit. Add a human element to it and some feeling that encourages and inspires a connection with your readers.

Don’t just give the bot parameters and cut, paste, and post whatever it spews out at you. That’s lazy and unprofessional.?

As a writer, your audience depends on you for content that adds value to their lives. Your clients pay you to produce content that engages, converts, and connects with their audience. Copy-savvy customers will see right through a lackadaisical writer’s AI charade.

That’s why I hate these “How I Wrote 100 Articles In A Week” posts. Even though efficiency matters, and we are often tasked with producing a certain amount of content within a specific timeframe, good writing isn’t about churning and burning. Instead, it’s about quality over quantity.

What good are 100 sloppily-written weekly articles that are “good enough” and full of typos, grammar errors, and robotic algorithmic content??

I’ll take one article that’s properly researched, well-written, and opens the gate for a deeper human connection any day.

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