GenAI has made writing and editing content very easy. One can use ChatGPT or Claude to write a blog post or improve one. On one end, one can use these tools to check basic grammatical and spelling mistakes. On the other end, one can use these tools to drastically alter the content and style. One can even use these tools for fact-checking and extending the content with data points, graphics, and newer ideas.
I have also enjoyed using these tools to write some blog posts. The graphics and illustrations are easy to create. Even though the thoughts are mine, GenAI tools have been able to greatly alter the content and writing style.
But I have decided to stop using these tools to alter styles and even to generate illustrations for a few reasons.
- GenAI tools are basically statistical tools which conform to a standard and that standard is for all users. Their indeterministic nature will bring some variations. But overall the style is around a standard and easy to recognize. Being authentic and humane means bringing your own style and way to writing. This is unique to me and my blogs should reflect my way of writing.
- GenAI tools generally write more verbose content. In this busy world, people are more interested in crisp content. We need some verbosity to make the content easy to read and understand. But GenAI tools overdo it. As the common joke goes, writers are using GenAI tools to write verbose content. Readers are again using GenAI tools to summarize those and read short summaries.
- There is currently a backlash against GenAI generated content due to AI slop posts. If a reader feels my post is written using GenAI tools, then they avoid it.
- Using GenAI tools to create illustrations of the post is a great way to make the content easy to understand. But such illustrations are easy to recognize as AI generated and people are avoiding posts with GenAI generated illustrations as AI slop.
I am still using GenAI tools to fix grammatical and spelling mistakes in my posts. But I am writing my blog posts in my style. My writing style is not great and I can use GenAI tools to improve it gradually. I am also avoiding GenAI generated illustrations. The readers must consider my post to be authentic to spend time reading it. And my blog posts should reflect not only my way of thinking, but also my way of writing and my style.