The Rise of AI Means More Opportunities, Not Less, for Writers
Gen Alpha's Illiteracy means long-term job security
When OpenAI first introduced ChatGPT to the public, do you remember the wave of panic among professional writers?
Copywriters, ghostwriters, and editors were flipping out, certain this meant the end of our entire industry. Seriously, who would pay for a copywriters when you could just go on ChatGPT (for free), type a few sentences, and the AI would spit out all your web copy for you?
But then, the fear abated. For three specific reasons.
The output was FAR from the “indistinguishable from human content” we’d been told to expect
OpenAI and other companies intentionally limited the technology to make it as inoffensive and respectful of modern sensibilities as possible and
The next generation is seemingly illiterate
*RECORD SCRATCH SOUND*
Yes, you heard me. AI cannot replace human creativity and insight. And large swathes of Gen Alpha cannot read, write, or retain information.
It’s not exactly good news, but if you make your living writing, I’m happy to tell you your job isn’t going anywhere.
In an era where technology infiltrates every aspect of our lives, it appears Millennial parents have created a trend among their offspring—Gen Alpha, often dubbed "iPad kids." The trend being functional illiteracy.
There have been a number of compilations of TikToks made by exasperated teachers detailing their students’ complete dependence on devices, lack of impulse control, inability to read, inability to remember anything, and using ChatGPT for all assignments, even when it’s expressly forbidden. Here’s just one of many:
If you’ve tooled around with any AI program, you know why this is bad. Yes, AI content can be helpful as a rough draft, particularly for nonfiction content. It can be helpful (VERY HELPFUL) for outlining fiction. But you know it’s AI as soon as you see it. It just doesn’t sound right.
Ask yourself if these kids, when they come of age, will have that same insight? Will they even be able to tell the difference between AI output and real human writing? Probably not. But the people who are hiring them for jobs sure will.
Therein lies the opportunity for writers.
Gen Alphas who go to college want their degree, but can’t write their essays to get a good grade. What do they do? Hire a writer.
Gen Alphas who don’t go to college because it’s a waste of money. They start an online business, but their AI-generated landing page isn’t generating sales. What do they do? Hire a writer.
Gen Alphas who want to make it big as a dark romance author but their AI-generated book is getting torn to shreds on Goodreads with one-star reviews. What do they do? Hire a writer.
Right now, the majority of people who hire writers have a time issue, not a skill issue. But that looks like it will change in the coming years.
Before you bristle at me and think I’m criticizing your specific child, of course I’m not. This isn’t a universal problem. My sister’s kids aren’t like this, and (I’m assuming) neither are yours.
But it is a wider trend, one that is far more pervasive than anyone should feel; good about. But one thing you can feel good about is the future prospects for people who write as their profession, either full-time or as a side-hustle.
AI doesn’t hurt your prospects as a writer. If anything, it’s improving them.
Silver linings, I suppose. That said, it seems like both parents and government are slowly getting the message. Not in time to save Gen Alpha, or Beta, even—but there is hope for the future yet. Thanks again for a great newsletter.