Is AI Good or Bad for Writers

In a previous post, I wrote about the advantages and disadvantages of AI. Today, this very charged but relevant topic will get a part 2! 

Recently, I read a discussion in a writing group about the impact of AI on writing jobs. The overall consensus was that jobs for writers are and will be affected. Topics that AI can’t write well will continue to be written by human writers. However, pieces that AI can generate are the most likely to replace human writers. For example, Top 10 lists, entertainment pieces, generic communication, and basic research for writing projects. 

The type of writing that AI cannot reproduce requires human contact and a knowledge of technological advancements; for example, writers who produce how-to guides about the use of new technology. AI may not have access to the knowledge or vocabulary to explain how to operate such technology. 

Similarly, AI cannot interview people and produce a piece of writing that includes the opinions of those interviewees. This human interest angle cannot be replicated with AI unless those interviews are already in the public domain. 

Tech companies that aim to increase the number of clients they serve need to generate tech-related content at a speed that is too fast for humans to achieve unless they employ several humans working around the clock. From a project management perspective, that would be a headache, especially considering that they must hire content specialists who demand a high price tag. It would be more cost efficient to employ a smaller staff of writers who can check the authenticity of the AI while increasing the company’s output to serve more clients. In other words, writers who are tech savvy will be one type of writer who will thrive in an AI world. 

Is AI good or bad? From this focus on the impact of AI and the writing fields, it is clear that AI will replace jobs. Some writers won’t find work for certain types of writing projects. But AI will also create and maintain jobs. The trickle-down effect of AI is thus both harmful and beneficial. 

What do you think about this topic?

5 Tips on Working for a Virtual StartUp

Nowadays, it’s possible to go to an office address and find that the company you’re looking for doesn’t physically exist there. At all. Technology has enabled the employees of an entire company to work from home. 

Some of these companies are startups that are 100 percent virtual. These companies are great if you hate commuting and love working in your own space. But, as startups, they also have their drawbacks.

Keep these five tips in mind if you’re thinking of working for a 100% remote startup company. These tips can improve your success at working for such a company in the long term.

1 Believe in the mission and vision

Look into the company’s mission and vision before you go to your job interview. The company’s goals should completely line up with yours. Of course, you want to work for a company with a purpose you believe in. With a startup, it is even more crucial that you aren’t working for the paycheque. Here’s why.

Startups are start-ups. The journey can be bumpy as the company experiences growing pains. Roles for each person may constantly change. Policies and procedures may frequently update as the company tries to determine what works and what doesn’t. Even the company’s products and services may change as it adjusts to become a better fit for its ideal customers. 

If the company’s goals are goals you fully support, it makes the constant shifting and adjusting easier to bear.

2 Be flexible and open to change

If you’re going to work for a startup, you absolutely must embrace change. As the company grows at a rapid pace, more people will join the team. Roles and responsibilities will shift. You may find yourself working with more team members or find yourself managing a team. You may have more tasks on your to-do list. Or you may have fewer, more specialized tasks as your role becomes more defined.

Procedures may also improve and change over time as the company experiments with different types of software. Instead of tracking your hours on a simple spreadsheet or table, you now need to learn to use customer management software (CRM software) such as Salesforce. Instead of casually mentioning in a chat that you finished a task, you’ll need to write your update in a project management tool, such as Trello, Asana, or Click Up.

3 Take initiative

A startup company is still figuring out many things. Just picture a company that is settling into its office on moving day. Office equipment and office furniture are everywhere as people try to figure out where everyone will sit and what will go in each room.

Some startups don’t have a human resources (HR) department or a clear line of authority. In these cases, you may need to be more assertive than you’re comfortable with. For example, if the person you report to is disrespectful to you, you’ll need to figure out who you could talk to about your boss. Similarly, without an HR, you won’t have someone to speak to about disrespectful treatment by a coworker. You will also have to take the initiative about getting a raise because the company is still figuring out what the pay raises, bonuses, and benefits should be.

4 Be prepared to put in extra hours and effort

Working for a startup could mean working extra hours and putting in more effort. Depending on how established the startup is, the company may require you to work longer days to get procedures set up. They may be short staffed, so you’ll find yourself taking on the role of more than one person.

At some companies, they will appreciate the extra effort and reward you with a promotion, such as a change in job title or responsibilities, or better pay. At other companies, particularly those that aren’t well organized, your extra effort will be required but will go unnoticed. They will expect you to work weekends and evenings in addition to regular office hours.  

5 Invest in yourself

If you’re working for a virtual startup, you may feel a bit disconnected, especially if you’re a social extrovert. You may only know the person who brought you into the company after the job interview. You’ll also know the people who you work with regularly. But everyone else will be just a name in a chat group. You don’t get to meet people casually in the hallway or during lunch break. 

The people you work with may not remember to introduce you to key members of the team or remember to show you how to use the software you’ll need. 

It’s up to you to reach out and remind them of your skills if you want a promotion or pay raise. Your supervisor may not remember these details, especially if the team has been growing and your supervisor has changed and there is no HR department. 

Learning new skills is important, especially when it comes to technology. No one from the IT Department is going to knock on your door to help you set up your computer or connect to your internet. If you lose your internet connection or your computer breaks down, you lose your lifeline to your virtual job. 

Key Takeaways

Not all startups are the same. Leadership affects how the company treats its employees. If there is strong leadership, the startup will grow quickly while providing the support that each person needs. People will feel acknowledged and appreciated for their work. If you’re considering working for a virtual startup, be prepared to put in extra effort and be ready for rapid and constant change.

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How Do You Conquer Your Fears?

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
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If you’ve ever searched for the answer to the question “How do you conquer your fears,” you know there is no perfect answer. Everyone has a different level of courage, and a different level of ability to conquer what intimidates them.

If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know that I conquered a common fear – public speaking. It wasn’t achieved overnight. It took a lot of effort and practice (and I had no choice – speak in front of an audience or don’t have a job).

I would say the best advice for conquering your fears is to face them head on, but from a safe distance. (So, if you have a fear of heights, I’m not suggesting that you jump down from a high rise.) Start with something small. For example, in an actual experiment, a boy named Peter got over his fear of white rabbits through repeated exposure, first from a distance, and eventually desensitizing him to his fear of the rabbits.

Another example of facing your fears is my experience performing on stage. I was part of a music group. I forgot my lines and froze in the middle of a song. Not my best moment, and not a perfect performance, but the point is, I got on stage in front of several people I knew at school. If you try something once, and you survive, it is easier to do it again. (And you set the bar a bit lower: first time, get on stage, make a mistake and look silly; next time, get on stage, do a better job.)

To conquer your fears, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and don’t be afraid to be less than perfect. Also, don’t be afraid of embarrassing yourself (such as forgetting your lines). Every little step counts as progress. 

Thanks for reading!

Who Would You Rather Be?

A random image that popped up on my social media reminded me of the saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side.”

Each one of us has our own unique skills and gifts, yet we wish we could be someone else, want something else, or do something that another person can do.

Often we forget that each of us already has something unique about us, and we should celebrate it. Wouldn’t you agree?

Daily writing prompt
Do you ever see wild animals?
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Is AI Good or Bad?

Daily writing prompt
What technology would you be better off without, why?
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I would say that AI (artificial intelligence) is technology that I would be better off without – but it’s a necessary part of life. AI is here to stay.

It helps us to complete tasks much faster and more efficiently. Yes, AI will replace tasks and possibly jobs. This week, a friend was asked at her job to use AI to speed up her workflow. She will be able to finish her tasks at three times the speed if she asks AI to do the work for her. Is there an ethics question there somewhere? Probably. Are we encouraging AI to replace certain jobs? Maybe. But do we have a choice? If my friend makes a stand and says, “No AI for me!” she could be job hunting tomorrow.

Out of curiosity, I asked AI to write a paragraph about the benefits of AI, and it replied, “Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a necessary part of life in the modern world due to its transformative potential across various sectors. AI-powered systems enhance efficiency and productivity by automating tasks, analyzing vast amounts of data, and providing valuable insights in fields like healthcare, finance, and transportation. From personalized medicine and medical diagnosis to fraud detection and risk management, AI improves decision-making and problem-solving. Additionally, AI enhances user experiences through virtual assistants, recommendation systems, and customized content, making technology more intuitive and accessible. As AI continues to evolve, its ability to address complex challenges and drive innovation makes it an indispensable tool for progress and improvement in various aspects of life.”

This paragraph was generated in one second. I can’t type that fast, let alone think that fast. In the future, our skills won’t be about how well we think creatively but how well we are able to use AI to do our work.

It is clear that even if some of us push as hard as we can against the progress of AI, others will pull equally as hard to advance AI so we can incorporate it more into our daily lives and our jobs. In the future, AI will be as commonplace as mobile phones. Those who can use AI will reap the most benefit. What do you think?

In part 2, I share more about the impact of AI on writing jobs.