It’s reported that 35% of companies worldwide use AI for their business. One way businesses use AI is with copywriting, whether it’s for blog content, landing pages, or email blasts to keep customers in the know.
However, there are arguments made against using AI, as some people worry that it devalues human writers and their craft. There is also the drawback of AI being able to convey any type of feeling, content generated by machines lacking the emotions needed to reach readers.
There are pros and cons of using human writers but, ultimately, you’re receiving quality content that’s thoroughly fact-checked and researched from a wide variety of sources. AI, on the other hand, can’t differentiate between what’s real and what’s fake, simply pulling information from sources on the internet regardless of validity.
If you need assistance with creating compelling content for your business and are leery of AI, you can always employ the help of professional writing services. This way you know you’re getting quality information accurately constructed for readers. But if you’re interested in AI and how it works, it’s important to know how it differs from human writers.
AI Copywriting Explained
Before you can appreciate the difference between human writers and AI models, you need to understand the intricacies of AI and how it factors into a business writing model. First, AI can generate content for blogs and articles. This is commonly done through ChatGPT or Bard.
These natural language processing (NPL) models work to decode and create language, just like human writers do. You simply need to give AI a prompt to generate content from. Additionally, you don’t need much information to get a lengthy article filled with information. However, you might find that the grade level produced isn’t what you’d like it to be.
For example, the average American reads between a 7th and 8th-grade reading level. With AI copywriting models, you might not get a say in what reading level their content produces.
However, human writers can use websites such as Hemingwayapp.com to tailor their copywriting to match specific grade levels, especially for landing page copywriting services. You don’t want readers to find your website, only to be met with a wall of confusing information that sounds AI-generated.
Conversely, human writers take time to research topics, constructing thought-provoking content that’s factual. AI, on the other hand, can create articles significantly faster than humans, although it won’t have the emotional touch that human writers add.
Keep in mind that models like ChatGPT can create content about any topic you give it, whereas human writers might find certain subjects more challenging or research-intensive. As with human marketing writers, ChatGPT is grammatically accurate, producing quality content.
Key Differences Between Human Copywriting and AI Copywriting
Although there are similarities between AI-generated content and human-created writing, there are also plenty of differences. For example, AI relies on algorithms to create content. Human writers, on the other hand, research content themselves. It seems simplistic, but it can alter the way blogs and articles sound.
If you’re looking for fast, accurate writing, AI can deliver the goods. Humans are limited in how fast and how often they can work. AI doesn’t require breaks. It can simply keep producing content, whereas human writers can’t.
Even though AI can generate considerably more content than humans can, it can’t produce the creativity of an actual person. AI isn’t equipped to use wordplay and puns. Any type of creative writing would be best left to humans.
Additionally, machines can’t convey emotions, an aspect of writing that’s only for writers to tackle. If your business needs something written with a sense of humor, AI won’t be able to produce the intended results.
Scalability is the next big difference between AI and human writers. It’s not uncommon for writers to have niches or topics they’re more comfortable writing about, especially for landing page copywriting or blog writing.
For example, you might not ask a real estate content writer to switch gears to the hospitality industry without some serious research involved. AI, however, is scalable. It can effortlessly create content for a wide range of industries and subjects. Human writers, on the other hand, are often limited in their knowledge and experience.
Look at it like this: AI and human writers each have their own strengths in professional website writing. AI can churn out article after article and across a wide range of topics while humans are limited to working set hours and specific fields. However, AI can’t produce articles with humor injected into them, a skill reserved for human writers.
Pros of AI Writing Tools
Key differences notwithstanding, there are different pros and cons to consider when choosing between AI writing tools and human writers.
For starters, ChapGPT is free to use, with premium plans coming at a monthly expense. Cost alone is a key factor for many businesses, and AI can save money. If it produces inaccurate information, however, you lose trust with readers.
Once you create an article using AI, you can make edits, tailoring it to your specific needs. This does, however, require that you enlist the help of a human writer or editor. Often, AI generates content that’s difficult to understand, as it’s on a college reading level. This means the writer or editor you hire has to take this information and rework it so it’s pleasing to all readers.
You might have content outlined by AI but ultimately crafted by a human. It might even take the content writer longer to turn AI-generated content into something pleasing than had they researched and written the topic on their own.
Conversely, humans aren’t machines, so there may always be typos in something they write. Even with the help of websites such as Grammarly.com, writers can still overlook subtle typos in their work. AI, however, is more likely to catch these inconsistencies. Additionally, you can ask AI to create content in an array of languages.
If you’re doing your content writing in-house, AI frees up time that you could devote elsewhere to your business. Some people even feel that AI-generated content looks like the work of a human content writer, but it’s not always the case, as demonstrated by its often high reading level and lack of emotion and creativity.
Cons of AI-Generated Content
Unfortunately, AI is often exploited by students, which means that everything from reports to essays could be written by machines. Instead of students applying what they learned and creating their own research, AI is stepping in.
The question is if it’s even ethical for students to submit AI-generated content, with most schools expressing a sincere disdain for AI used in this capacity. What does it say about the students who take the time to craft their own articles while others rely on machines?
There are even reports of AI creating factually inaccurate, dangerous information. For example, multiple ebooks teach people how to forage for mushrooms. Unfortunately, these ebooks are AI-generated, and foragers were led to find potentially poisonous mushrooms. This is one example of how AI can be detrimental and why human writers have a crucial role in content creation.
Other arguments say that AI writing tools devalue actual writers, taking away from their craft and the skill that goes into creating content. Another concern is that any AI-generated writing might have similar content since algorithms don’t leave much — if any — room for creativity and originality.
Since AI doesn’t understand human emotions, there are drawbacks to using this tool for writing services. There are little nuances in the human language that are beyond the scope of understanding for AI. Sarcasm is one example, as AI can’t interpret it accordingly. This sets human writers apart, as they can use emotions and experiences to get a point across when writing.
There’s also the argument that AI models can’t create anything beyond the scope of what their algorithm requests them do to. On the other hand, human writers offer a unique quality of writing, especially when creating email marketing campaigns. This means that humans know how to infuse creativity and imagination, putting new spins on information while AI struggles to add any type of emotion.
As previously explained with the mushroom foraging scenario, AI isn’t always accurate. Yes, humans can make mistakes while writing, but if they’re thorough with their research and fact-check with references, there is little room for error.
AI, however, bases its information on the internet and if something it reads is glaringly wrong, it won’t have the know-how to differentiate real from fake. Human writers, on the other hand, can look at a variety of sources for a blog or article and differentiate between true and false information. AI also requires a human to check it for accuracy and redundancy so writers and/or editors are still required when using this tool.
As with anything, human writers for copywriting also come with pros and cons to consider.
Pros of Human Copywriting
Unlike AI, human writers can create thought-provoking content rich with emotion, originality, and creativity. They can pull from personal experiences to create content that speaks to a wide range of readers. Unlike AI, human content writers are excellent storytellers who know how to create compelling information to engage with readers.
Another pro to human writers is that they can switch up the tone of their writing to appeal to a certain audience. AI isn’t there yet, so anything that’s machine-generated is going to have a more formal tone. Human writers, however, can consider their audience and write something designed to fit their specific needs.
Human writers can also take the time and energy to conduct an in-depth search for information. This means they can pull information from a variety of sources. This might be in-person interviews or research papers from across the web. Either way, human writers can take the time to create content from a variety of locations. This ensures accuracy and conveys a level of authority and originality.
Using the information given to them, human writers can present readers with complex ideas in a way that’s easy to understand. AI, on the other hand, might explain these ideas without considering the audience consuming them. Unlike AI, human writers can analyze information critically, presenting their audience with sophisticated arguments, whereas AI can’t.
Another pro of using human writers is that they can consider reader feedback and tailor their articles or blogs accordingly. If something needs revision, human writers can rework their content, improving the quality of their work overall. AI doesn’t have the capability of doing such nuanced revisions.
Cons of Human Writers
Yes, human writers bring invaluable tools to the table — tools that AI simply can’t compete with. However, there are some cons to using human writers for copywriting.
One main con is the length of time it takes a human to research and outline an article. This is especially true for anything that requires a significant amount of fact-checking and planning.
Human content creators need to gather their sources, ensure accuracy, cross reference, cite information, and possibly call on professionals for interviews, further adding credibility to their writing (depending on the subject). AI, however, has immediate access to a variety of internet sources and can swiftly compile information.
Keep in mind that human writers and editors need to fact-check any AI-generated information for accuracy, so they’re still an integral part of the writing process. But, unlike AI, humans aren’t always able to meet deadlines, which can delay the production of information for readers, slowing business for companies.
It’s also worth noting that human writers often experience inconsistencies in their writing based on their mood, external distractions, or health. This might mean that the quality of their writing reflects what they’re experiencing in their personal life. The result might be a series of content that lacks uniformity.
Scalability is also another issue when using human writers. When businesses grow, their content does, too. This means they need someone who can keep up with the demands of increased content, maintaining quality across a variety of literature to keep customers informed of updates.
If human writers aren’t equipped to write about a certain topic, it can leave businesses scurrying to find new writers. AI, however, can write about virtually any topic.
How to Blend Human Copywriting and AI Copywriting
AI has its pros, but it can’t replace the human touch. From sarcasm to rigorous fact-checking, human writers offer a skill that’s simply unparalleled.
You won’t have to worry about content lacking in emotion, as human writers know how to infuse sarcasm, happiness, and everything in between, connecting with readers through creative, compelling content. This is something AI simply can’t do.
If you’re looking for assistance with your next writing project or need unmatched marketing services, Let’s B Media can help. We offer creative services, digital marketing, and website services, helping you to grow and expand your business while connecting with your targeted audience. Contact us today for help with all your digital marketing needs.