AI & Content Creation - Revolutionizing the Market or Saturating It?
Greetings & Salutations my fellow Labers.
Artificial Intelligence, more commonly known as AI, is transforming content creation across all mediums, whether written, visual, or multimedia. By making the process faster and more accessible, AI tools are opening doors for both professionals and amateurs alike.
However, this rise in content production has also led to market saturation, as more people can now create and distribute content. And this is jeopardizing the quality of the online content.
Amateurs, not fully understanding the craft are trying to make immense of this technology by focusing on quantity, not quality. And all of a sudden everyone is an expert content or copywriter.
This post might seem to be a bit of a rant, but let’s just keep emotions out of the way and think rationally. I have years of experience in writing and I still make mistakes and have to deal with writer’s block and all the usual stuff.
This is where AI (the likes of Grammarly, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc) comes in for assistance. So I’m essentially using AI as a tool, merely a tool, nothing more nothing less.
But using AI entirely for a piece of content and claiming it to be yours is an entirely different ball game, you know!
I mean asking ChatGPT to write an article and then claiming that you’re now a content or copywriter is something that shouldn’t happen. But it still happens a LOT.
There’s nothing wrong with using AI for assistance. But ChatGPT or any other similar model doesn’t turn you into a writer, out of nowhere, c’mon.
AI in Written Content Creation
AI tools are revolutionizing writing by automating tedious tasks and boosting creativity. There are various free and paid tools that anyone can use including the likes of ChatGPT, Grammarly, Jasper, Claude, Gemini, and a bunch of others.
Tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, Claude, and similar others are excellent for brainstorming ideas and drafting articles. They can also assist you in increasing SEO-optimized content. Grammarly and others help you check grammar and improve the clarity of your written content. And there are a plethora of others, such as AI humanizers, etc.
These tools help writers produce content faster, focusing more on strategy and creativity. And on the flip side, these tools help even non-professional writers create high-quality, error-free content.
Now, don’t get me wrong here, I’m not complaining about anything. But non-pros are doing it wrong. Their entire focus is on creating content which AI is helping them with. And the problem is, they’re not “focusing more on strategy and creativity.”
The result is half-baked content churned out rapidly without any purpose. This is where it becomes a problem for the professionals in the field. Despite having an edge, these pros have to double down on their efforts to score good clients. While clients have to sift through more and more job applications to find the right person, complicating the entire process.
An even bigger problem is that non-pros claim this AI-generated content as their own, and this draws the line. While AI can mimic human writing, it lacks the emotional depth and nuanced understanding that professionals bring.
So, non-pros are still at a disadvantage, which begs the question, why bother in the first place? Why not make an effort and learn the art of putting some words together with a sense of purpose? WHY take the shortcut
AI in Visual Content Creation
The same is the case with visual content creation and AI. Creating stunning visuals has never been easier with AI tools, such as DALL-E for generating custom images based on text prompts and Canva for designing social media graphics, logos, and presentations, among many others.
With these tools, no design experience is needed to create professional-level visuals. Templates and AI-generated options make the design process quick and efficient. Now, think about someone who has put in years and years of effort to produce stunning images and videos using the more conventional tools from Adobe and others. Think about the designers and animators who honed their craft after putting in so much effort.
Again, don’t get me wrong. Pros of this field are still miles ahead but freshers are only making the market tougher. Companies mistakenly hire them for their exquisite portfolios, etc only to find that they’re no-good for the job.
And then they have to start the hiring process once again. Which by the way is another hefty process for employers, as it drives their costs higher (another excuse for them to pay low wages, ehm…).
While using AI for visual content creation is fun, over-reliance on AI can lead to generic-looking designs. Infusing a personal touch is still essential to stand out creatively.
AI might be getting better at producing some great results, but you can still tell the difference. In the coming years, this difference might not be very visible, but anyone looking for fully customizable content will still have to turn to the pros of the field.
So WHY not develop this skill and use AI as a tool to get better results? Why is this idea such a tough one to grasp? Why take shortcuts?
How AI Levels the Playing Field?
Without a doubt, AI has made content creation more accessible, allowing anyone to produce high-quality content without needing specialized skills. But that doesn’t mean the skill itself has entirely lost its value. Using a chainsaw to cut a tree is much easier than a hand saw. But you still need to make the right cuts with it to make it more effortless.
Surely, AI tools democratize the content space, enabling beginners to compete with seasoned professionals. Writers, designers, and marketers can experiment with new formats and techniques using AI-driven platforms.
The market is now open to a broader range of voices. And with lower barriers to entry, creators from all backgrounds can participate and grow their audience. But no one is addressing the elephant in the room.
As more people enter the field, competition grows, making it harder to stand out. Competition might be good for the economy, but not for society and the market as a whole.
The Saturation of the Market
The content landscape is becoming increasingly crowded, thanks to AI. Easy-to-use AI tools mean that more content is being produced every day. More creators—both experienced and beginners—are flooding the market with similar types of content. Because AI still sucks when it comes to innovation and creativity, but not for long.
Standing out now requires more unique, high-quality content. Therefore, creators must go beyond AI’s output to produce something original and meaningful. Pros can still manage it better than amateurs, but that’s not the point.
It is important to combine AI’s efficiency with creativity to deliver value to your audience. Now, this is only possible if you know the art of content creation and use AI as a tool to make your content even more powerful.
Knowing the art means putting in all the effort and becoming a professional in the field without cutting corners. In other words, we’re back to square one, which is, learning the craft comes first.
Balancing AI with Human Touch
While AI is as impressive as anything, it’s crucial to maintain a balance between automation and the unique qualities humans offer. Freshers must not only learn the basics but also integrate emotional storytelling, empathy, and audience connection.
For that critical thinking, deep research, and personal experiences matter a lot. These only come with time and effort, which amateurs are not willing to put in.
You can use AI to handle repetitive tasks and speed up the content creation process. There’s nothing wrong in doing that. After all, it is a tool assisting creators without replacing their CREATIVITY.
Therefore, to truly benefit from AI and revolutionize content creation, use AI as an assistant, not a replacement. Leverage it for efficiency while ensuring your content retains authenticity and a human touch.
Final Thoughts
AI is reshaping content creation by making it easier and more accessible for everyone. Whether you’re a writer, designer, or marketer, AI tools can enhance your creative output and productivity. However, as more people embrace AI, the content market becomes increasingly crowded.
To succeed, creators must strike a balance between using AI for efficiency and maintaining the originality that comes from human creativity. By mastering this blend, you can thrive in the ever-evolving world of content creation.
What’s your take on it?