Why technical writing is more relevant than ever

These are my personal opinions and are not associated with any company I am currently employed by or have worked for in the past.

Imagine being a technical writer at a tech company. Your day begins with inputs from various teams: architects, developers, project managers, and most importantly, the end users. You schedule meetings, convey ideas, and collaborate to create user manuals that meet the needs. More than a content creator, you are collaborating, scheduling and rescheduling with various teams taking into factor a lot of human aspects. Skills that you'd think can't be replicated by AI. You might think that this human-centric approach, combined with diverse collaboration, makes your role irreplaceable.

Now imagine that the skills traditionally held by architects, programmers, and quality assurance testers are centralized within an AI system. So much so that an eight year old can give the instruction to develop an app. All technical knowledge and expertise are distilled into a singular platform, creating a unified vision of a project. Now, do you think it is impossible to generate content for the user seamlessly?

With this level of centralization, AI not only generates accurate documentation but does so with a coherence that aligns with the overall project vision. It compiles data from various phases of development, ensures consistency in terminology, and even incorporates user feedback automatically.

As we navigate the rapid advancements in AI, one might assume that the role of technical writers would diminish. The argument appears sound: with AI centralizing skills and generating content more efficiently, why would organizations need human writers? However, this conclusion overlooks the nuanced relationship between technology and the human element.

Humans are not always bound by the limits of materialism.

Humans are not always bound by the limits of materialism. For instance, during periods of upheaval in Chinese history, such as the Cultural Revolution, individuals often chose to carry scrolls of calligraphy or poetry that embodied their cultural heritage instead of practical items like food or clothing. In Japanese history, during conflicts, especially during the Sengoku period (15th-17th centuries), many samurai prioritized taking their swords (katana) and scrolls containing their family histories rather than more practical supplies. During the American Civil War, soldiers frequently carried their Bibles or prayer books. Some soldiers also carried photographs of their loved ones, believing that these personal connections could offer protection and strength.

In the mid-20th century, specifically during the devastating drought of 1940-1941 in Sri Lanka's Central Province, a remarkable act of devotion unfolded among Buddhist monks. As they faced extreme scarcity of food and resources, many monks found themselves too weak to stand, forced to lay on the ground. Yet, in this time of dire need, they began chanting ancient scriptures, striving to preserve the knowledge.

These incidents illustrates how a part of us transcends material stuff, highlighting the enduring value of human insight in any field, including technology. Technical writers fill that role. Human relationship with technology is quite nuanced and human aspect will always be indispensable, like art is indispensable.

My conclusion is that technical writing jobs are likely to increase, albeit in transformed capacities. Traditional roles may become narrower as AI takes over routine documentation tasks. Yet, the skills that technical writers possess—much like art—remain essential.

For instance, technical writers may get engaged in curating the datasets used to train AI, ensuring that the information is accurate and reflective of real-world scenarios. By providing insights into user behavior and preferences, technical writers help shape how AI systems learn and respond, ultimately improving user experiences.

Furthermore, as AI systems require constant refinement and training, the expertise of technical writers becomes invaluable. Their ability to provide feedback, develop training materials, and create use-case scenarios is critical in shaping AI models. Without this input, AI may produce content that lacks the necessary context, relevance, and emotional resonance.

In essence, while the landscape of technical writing may shift, its importance will only expand. Technical writers are not merely creators of documents; they are artists in the realm of technology, infusing humanity into the digital experience. Their role is evolving but remains indispensable in ensuring that technology serves to enhance the human experience rather than replace it.