Confessions of a skeptic-turned-believer: How AI became my content wingwoman
Amina M Azad, former Communications Manager at Unlock Impact, blogs about her experience with AI and content generation
I went from ‘AI? No way! I’ve seen all the Terminator movies and I’m not falling for that trap!’ to ‘ Oh AI, how do I love thee, let me count the ways…’
For communications professionals like me, the years 2022 and 2023 are marked as our ‘A-ha’ moment. It is when we were just about emerging from a crippling pandemic to the dawn of artificial intelligence (AI). Like a blockbuster in the making, AI burst onto the Comms scene with quite a flourish. Suddenly there was ChatGPT, BARD, Jarvis and who can forget the snazzy campaign Canva ran to unveil their new AI offerings. The ease with which one could generate copy and design was phenomenal. And to a ‘seasoned’ comms professional like me (I initially wrote veteran and Boomer generation, but Grammarly chimed in), it was like the Simpsons had predicted this already. But the skeptic in me was weary, don’t get me wrong, I am open to new experiences, but I also have strong reservations about plagiarism, and copy-pasting something written by a machine just didn’t feel right.
Storytelling for Impact organisations is a challenging landscape. Nuance is very important. Research and data play a key role in messaging. Moreover, Communication is all about emotions. It’s about authenticity, and impact communications is about giving voice to issues that matter. So, the idea of mass-producing copy and letting machines handle the message is the ultimate red flag.
Therefore, I tip-toed in with reservations and with a deep sense of sinning against my original voice. But, yes, plot twist: AI won me over, one login at a time. The red flags are still there, but as Uncle Ben famously said, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’. If you hold on to that principle, then AI content generation is a blessing beyond your wildest dreams.
How ChatGPT helped me:
It has been the end of the dreaded ‘Writer’s Block’. A struggle that is all too real for people like me who have been writing for years now. This gets magnified when you’re working remotely and there is no one else around to bounce ideas off. Coffee can help only so much. AI swoops in now as my work BFF, someone who gets what I’m trying to say, my point of view, and helps clear the haze.
The productivity graph has soared. Research has become a breeze, although one does have to cross-check the source and authenticate but it beats the endless scrolling through Google archives. Getting more done in less time is a win I will take any day!
Designing has become child’s play. For those of us who could never figure out Adobe Studio, Canva has made us all amateur designers who can get the job done. The latest upgrade to Canva lets you access a whole spectrum of design tools that significantly elevate your visual storytelling.
AI tools for content creation and management are many and quite specialized, taking care of every aspect. From design to copy, newsletters to website, SEO to content calendar – you name it and it’s there. The temptation to partake is endless. Adaptation of what works best for you is the way to go.
Like an insecure coworker, I have secretly wondered if AI will replace people like me. Is it game over for humans writing copy?
For now, it looks difficult. Because at the end of the day, the whole idea of communication is about personalization and tapping into the audiences’ emotions. While my BFF AI can empower me with the words, it is I the content creator that puts the nuance in them. AI tools in communications are a great way to increase productivity, there’s more work accomplished in less time. For me, that means more meaningful time at work, better organisation of tasks and priorities, and ultimately a creative experience that is exhilarating every day. Am I still insecure? Not so much now that I know that AI needs me just as much as I need it to do what we do best. The love affair continues but it is regulated by Uncle Ben’s advice.
How has your experience been with generative AI? Drop your insights in the comments below and let’s compare notes.
