Another global pandemic? Zombies? Killer bees? Or the four horsemen of artificial intelligence? Will the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) be some kind of apocalypse for writers around the world? *Gasp* 

Some people do sincerely worry that AI will replace millions, maybe even billions, of people’s jobs. Writers especially seem to be at risk. New AI tools like ChatGPT, Frase, and Jasper are being used by millions of people and certainly can be helpful for delegating some of that pesky writing work. But will all the writing jobs soon disappear, almost overnight, in some type of mysterious AI rapture? Will the rise of AI bring the downfall of millions of writers’ careers?

Spoiler alert: we don’t think so. But if you’re a writer, there are some very real ways you should prepare for what’s coming—and, no, it doesn’t involve killer bees (thankfully).

We’re going to break down the new and exciting ways AI is being used in the literary world and how you can stay ahead of the curve.

It’s Everywhere!

First, what exactly is artificial intelligence? No, it’s not your step-brother who keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. The term artificial intelligence is thrown around so much these days that it can be confusing to even understand what it is we’re talking about.

With a history dating back to the early 1950s, AI technology has been steadily improving and evolving. AI uses machine learning algorithms and natural language processing to analyze data and generate content.

It’s basically a computer system built to perform tasks like learning, decision-making, and problem-solving that typically require human intelligence. Software programmers create machines to spot patterns, make predictions and take actions based on massive data sets. 

Artificial intelligence has quietly been built into every facet of our complex modern society. Everything these days seems to run on computers and their mysterious algorithms. Even airplanes have tragically gone down in part due to software glitches. 

AI is rapidly changing a ton of industries, and the publishing world is no different. AI has revolutionized how we create and consume content, with AI-powered tools and platforms becoming increasingly popular among writers, editors, and publishers.

Let’s dig in!

Transforming the Publishing World

AI is already having a big impact on the publishing industry. It’s being used to write books and other completely automated content that require no human input. Imagine software that can produce books, articles, and other content on any topic—with all the latest research and data available—in minutes rather than months. Hard to believe, but it’s already happening.

AI publishing allows you to create content that is customized to your audience, optimized for search engines, and tailored to your brand. It can analyze data on a topic, book genre, or demographic for marketing and put together proposals and research to help you decide what to write. It can also generate an outline for the content based on that data.

And it can help with some of that proofreading and editing so you shave more time off the overall process. Once your book is done and ready to sell, you can lean on AI-powered tools to help put together a solid marketing plan. (Also check out our free workshop on how to make money through Amazon self-publishing tools.)

Sharpen Your (AI) Pencil

AI-generated content does have the potential to completely change the landscape of writing—but not necessarily in a bad way or one that takes away jobs.

As AI technology continues to develop, we may see a rise in machine-generated content that can compete with human writing.

But on the other side of the coin, AI is programmed to create content based on algorithms and data, which can lead to a lack of originality and innovation. This is where you can add your personality, life experience, and unique flare. Human writers bring their perspectives and experiences to their writing, creating more genuine and authentic content. But you can still use AI to assist in the writing process.

AI tools can give you time back to focus on other important business or strategic areas. It can also help you produce personalized content readers will love, increasing engagement and leading to increased revenue.

While AI may be able to mimic some of the mechanics of good writing, human writers will always have a special touch. It will never be able to replicate the creativity and emotional resonance that makes writing truly great.

What Are You Waiting For?

To some, AI might seem like it could bring a writing apocalypse. But using AI-powered tools to enhance rather than replace human creativity will put your career on a strong foundation.

AI is truly a game-changing technology and is something that every writer, whether you’re established or just getting started, should understand how to use. 

We don’t have to tell you that the world of content creation online is fast-paced, to say the least. Wouldn’t you rather have a supercomputer as your writing assistant instead of doing everything on your own? 

So if you want to stay on the cutting edge of your craft, embrace AI and what it can do for you.

‍