Over 50% of workers conceal that they use AI due to redundancy fears, finds new report. Discover how to ethically leverage AI for content creation and enhance productivity without misuse.
Note: This article is part of our archival content and belongs to a previous phase of our publication. Amaranth Magazine is now a dedicated literary magazine.
• 52% of people who use AI [Generative Artificial Intelligence] at work are reluctant to admit to using it for their most important tasks.
• 53% of people who use AI at work worry that using it on important tasks makes them look replaceable.
• 27% of companies have banned the use of generative artificial intelligence.
The first two data points come from a Microsoft-LinkedIn study released this May; the third is from a Cisco report released in January 2024. They highlight the mixed feelings and challenges surrounding AI in the workplace.
On one hand, there’s a clear hesitation and concern about AI’s impact on job security. On the other, the widespread ban in some companies indicates a cautious approach to its adoption. Generative AI has divided opinions more sharply than the Coke versus Pepsi dilemma. (Disclaimer: I come from India, and I prefer neither. I vote for Thums Up, a cola-based drink that I grew up on — the brand was later bought out by Coca-Cola, but it still beats the mother company in sales volumes. Go figure)
To use or not to use AI at work isn’t the question anymore. Nearly eight (7.5 to be precise) out of 10 people, if given a chance, would use it, according to the Microsoft-LinkedIn study.
But this widespread use, especially the use of AI to create content, is fraught with risks. How many of us tap it responsibly? How do we ensure we are not misusing this powerful technology? Do we even know what risks or responsibilities we are talking about?
It’s no wonder many big corporations have banned the use of GenAI. So, what’s the deal? Why are so many people using AI and yet hiding it from their bosses?
Psychoanalysts may have detailed findings on that, but the short answer could well be a fear: a fear of being ‘caught out’; of feeling redundant; of being told they are replaceable.
But used properly and ethically, AI has many advantages, and in these days of short-staffed organizations, employees should not only use it but should be encouraged to leverage AI, especially to create content.
While the drawbacks are aplenty, loss of human creativity and authenticity being the foremost, the advantages are also worth taking note of. As a freelance writer and editor, let me walk you through the advantages of leveraging AI to create content.
1- Use AI for Efficiency and Productivity
Writing at its best is a lonely task, a rather slow process. Take this article, for instance. I started over an hour ago, and I am in the range of 300 words. Reason: I am going back and forth between this Word file and going online to read up.
And I am not a slow writer by any stretch of the imagination. I was a journalist not long ago and am used to churning out upward of a thousand words every single day, fighting deadlines every night. For the record, I did not use AI at work to create or edit content when I worked as a journalist, and I do not advise any journalist to do so either. However, I do use AI to create content now as a freelancer who is not exactly engaged with daily media.
So, what are the advantages of using AI to create content, you ask?
Take this article, for instance. I used ChatGPT to get the basic structure and how to go about it. While I did not get the first draft written by it (too old-school, perhaps!), you can get that draft within seconds of tapping in the key inputs and the tone and tenor you need. It’s a starting point, and you can develop from there. For this piece, like any other, once done I would run it past Grammarly for an instant grammar check. I will not use all the prompts given, but it’s still a good check.
You, too, should not use all suggestions without being convinced. To illustrate: I just ran William Somerset Maugham’s Short Story ‘The Ant and The Grasshopper’ on Grammarly, and Grammarly rates it 72 on the overall score. What rubbish. Yesterday, it gave a good 97 for a formal letter.
Thereafter? I would put it on SEMrush SEO Writing Assistant website to get a review on four scores: Overall score; Readability; Search Engine Optimization score; Originality; and Tone of voice. For the record: I don’t get the last two since I am not a paid user. But you can try it out if you want to. Like Grammarly, it’s a great way to check. I believe there’s no harm in getting suggestions.
2- Consistency and Tone
Outside of journalistic work, where accuracy is paramount, and creative writing, where originality is key, AI can help with structure, tone, SEO optimization, and more. More and more content-generating roles today expect you to use AI tools liberally. According to the Microsoft-LinkedIn study cited at the beginning, 66% of leaders wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills. As a content creator, you need to adapt your writing voice for different platforms to create content, and AI can help you understand your audience and maintain consistency.
It can also tighten your write-up.
3- Content Production
Businesses that need to produce large volumes of content often require reports, blogs, short synopses, catchy one-line social media posts, etc., written quickly and efficiently. Scalability, thus, is imperative. Picture this, for instance: Your company has a major product launch coming up and needs a series of midsized blogs, newsletters, and crisp social media posts to build excitement and inform your audience. Ordinarily, it would need a big team of writers working for long hours to belt that out. But most companies do not have that kind of team any longer, and any such venture is likely to lead to burnout, or half-baked content as a result (here, from the report: 68% of people say they struggle with the pace and volume of work, and 46% feel burned out).
With AI, however, you can enter your key points and the tone required, and the system will generate draft content quickly. This rapid generation allows your (human) team to review, tweak, proofread, and make the content perfect. This ensures the content meets the standards required and engages the readers — a.k.a. your potential customers.
By the way, the last paragraph was ChatGPT-generated, although tweaked. Did you figure?
In sum, using GenAI to create content is a double-edged sword. It has its advantages and disadvantages. So, what I say is this: lead AI, and make it work for you. But do not get led by AI, and don’t get consumed by it.
Reference:
– https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/ai-at-work-is-here-now-comes-the-hard-part#:~:text=75%25%20of%20knowledge%20workers%20use,work%20more%20(83%25).
– https://newsroom.cisco.com/c/r/newsroom/en/us/a/y2024/m01/organizations-ban-use-of-generative-ai-over-data-privacy-security-cisco-study.html
– https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/taste-the-thunder-thums-up-captures-a-decade-high-market-share-article-94365213
– https://amaranthmagazine.ca/2024/04/28/8-vital-steps-to-take-before-launching-an-artificial-intelligence-powered-business-for-success/
– https://www.legaldive.com/news/one-in-four-companies-ban-genai/706219/
