Should Editors & Authors Fear AI?

The rise of Artificial Intelligence has led to many debates, insecurities, and fears surrounding which jobs are still safe and sustainable. Editing, and writing to an extent, are among the careers that seem to have the most to fear when it comes to job security. AI has been able to do basic editing for years, but has it advanced to something more threatening? Find out what author S. M. de Frey says on the matter in an ‘interview’ with Chat GPT 4.

---

Since ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, and similar AI-generative tools have increased in public prominence, it’s been the question on everyone’s mind: Is my job safe? Editors and authors are particularly concerned about whether the linguistic prowess of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and its ability to learn and improve on this prowess, will nullify the need for their jobs.

I decided to be bold and ask our artificial competition its opinion on the matter, knowing we can comfort ourselves somewhat in the fact that AI can’t lie unless programmed with the wrong information. So, with good faith, I delve into these pressing questions with ChatGPT in an effort to analyse its risk to our future.

Please note that I didn’t edit any of ChatGPT’s responses—this will demonstrate a few flaws in the structure of its answers. Answers by ChatGPT are italicised, and I expand on each answer below based on my experience working with AI so far.

The Risk of AI to Editors &Authors

My question was the obvious: Will ChatGPT and similar AI make careers like editing and writing void?

ChatGPT said:

The rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has sparked significant debate about their impact on careers in editing and writing. Here are several key points to consider:

 

1. 1. AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: Many industry experts argue that AI should be seen as a tool that can enhance the work of writers and editors rather than replace them. AI can assist in tasks like grammar checking, fact-checking, and content generation, allowing professionals to focus on higher-level creative and critical thinking aspects of their work. For instance, tools like Grammarly and Hemingway Editor have long aided editors in refining text, and AI can extend these capabilities further .

This is a fairly straightforward answer. AI-powered editing tools such as Grammarly have helped a lot in making editing easier, for both authors and editors. But it can’t be given free reign. Even as I sit writing here, Grammarly is fiercely suggesting premium changes that will effectively suppress my unique voice and style. This is our key comfort on the matter—AI is and will never be a substitute for the human touch.

(Note the punctuation errors throughout ChatGPT’s answers, particularly the space between full stops that has no business being there.)

 

2. 2. Quality and Authenticity: While AI can generate content quickly, it often lacks the nuanced understanding of context, voice, and audience that human writers possess. Many organizations still prioritize human oversight to ensure quality, authenticity, and emotional resonance in content . In industries where brand voice and emotional connection are crucial, human editors will remain indispensable.

We can all agree that ChatGPT is quick. It provides the answer for any question you might have in likely a quarter of the time it would’ve taken you to find the answer on Google. It’s convenient. But there’s a truth to the fact that AI doesn’t have a unique, individual voice.

Can it be programmed and taught to write content in brand voice? Yes, it can, but it still needs a human to teach it the brand voice and to edit its responses to ensure it doesn’t wander away or overdo the branding.

AI works with algorithms and large amounts of data to process your question. The chatbots then transform the processed data into natural-sounding answers using Natural Language Processing (NLP).

AI, therefore, has no imagination. It will stick to the same algorithms over and over again and can only work with the data input available online and in pre-written scripts. So, while its responses may seem impressive, creative, and unique at first, it will become repetitive sooner or later.

 

3. 3. Emerging Opportunities: The integration of AI into the writing and editing process is likely to create new opportunities within these fields. Roles may evolve to include more oversight of AI-generated content, leading to the emergence of new specialties such as AI content strategy or AI ethics in writing .

A very valid point. Like any other innovation in any other field of work, AI can be overwhelming and pose challenges. However, it also provides new opportunities. There are already new careers for writers and editors designed to teach AI by feeding it new content sripts. It’s a job opportunity that didn’t exist before.

AI will always need a human hand to guide it; editors and authors need to make sure that this guiding hand is theirs.

 

4. 4. Adaptation and Upskilling: Writers and editors who adapt to the changing landscape by learning how to work with AI tools may find that they can increase their productivity and expand their skill sets. Continuous learning will be vital as technology evolves .

This is particularly important. If we don’t want to be replaced by AI, we need to learn how to use it. Continuous learning has always been a reality for any career, even before the emergence of AI. Now, continuous learning may just look a bit different, with a higher pace due to the rate at which technology develops.

But guess what—we have a cheat code. We can ask AI tools what the latest updates and initiatives are and how to stay ahead. Human competitors may be loath to share their skills, techniques, and knowledge, but AI has no such restrictions. As long as your questions are within a particular moral guideline, it’ll answer you without hesitation.

 

5. 5. Job Market Dynamics: While AI may streamline certain tasks, it does not necessarily mean a net loss of jobs in editing and writing. The demand for quality content remains high, and skilled professionals who can leverage AI tools effectively may find themselves in a better position in the job market .

In essence, AI doesn’t have to be a headache and source of fear; it can be the latest ammunition in our arsenal. Imagine how much faster and better we’ll be able to work if AI does the tedious, boring stuff for us.

Those punctuation qualms that drive you absolutely insane; that one stupid spelling or typing mistake you keep on missing; that slight difference between referencing styles that keeps on slipping your mind—let AI handle that. Once AI has done most of the nitpicking, we can focus on creativity and high-quality edits.

Granted, we’ll still need to nitpick for errors in things like homophones, homonyms, transposed letters, and commas around independent clauses. AI hasn’t quite gotten to the point where it can make those distinctions. But it can lower the number of times we have to go through the same passage to focus on all the different things that can go wrong.

There’s a lot more to editing and writing than just scanning—it may be a while before AI conquers all the different aspects, and even then, it will always need a human guide.

Concluding Thoughts on AI

So, is AI a risk to editors and authors? I would say no, not at this point. Could it be in the future? Well, it may pose new challenges but for the determined editor or author who isn’t afraid of change, AI tools will always be just that—a tool to use to our advantage.

While the focus here has mainly been on editing, authors should also be able to take a breath. Editing is a big part of writing and, admittedly, tools like Grammarly make it a whole lot easier.

We have enough to focus on without fretting about whether all our letters, words, and commas are in the right place. But if you want to be your future editor’s favourite author, you’ll find a lot of value in using tools like Grammarly, Scrivener, or Hemingway Editor.

The key is to embrace AI chatbots in a way that fits within our own vision and career goals. Hiding and ignoring the potential problem, won’t make it go away. Ignorance will only mean regression, and one day you may find your career and skills far behind those of peers who stayed ahead of the changes.

Written: November 2024