Was it Written by AI? How You Can Inform, In line with HubSpotters

At school, I realized the fundamentals of excellent writing — preserve it brief, concise, and grammatically right. 

By that definition, AI-written content material needs to be good, proper? But, once I mess around with instruments like ChatGPT, I discover just a few pink flags. 

Positive, it is grammatically right, however it offers off severe “company converse” vibes. It follows a logical sequence, however it typically goes on prolonged tangents. And whereas its responses could also be correct, it typically lacks a novel perspective.

This is not to counsel AI-written content material is inherently dangerous. However when you plan to leverage AI for content material creation, it is essential to know the place it falls brief, and easy methods to repair it.

4 Indicators It Was Written by AI

1. It is not skimmable.

As a author, it is good to think about that folks dangle on to each phrase I write. The fact, nonetheless, is way completely different.

Gone are the times of leisurely studying the newspaper on the breakfast desk. Within the digital age, folks need data, and so they need it rapidly. 

However when you’ve ever tinkered with an AI-writing device, it’s possible you’ll discover it hasn’t mastered the artwork of brevity. For instance, once I ask ChatGPT to put in writing an intro for an article on easy methods to write higher headlines, it generates the next:

This intro is not essentially dangerous, however it’s a tad wordy and much too lengthy. Now examine it to a weblog put up from Neil Patel on the identical subject:

See the distinction?

Patel begins with an enticing query, instantly piquing our curiosity. He additionally writes in brief, one or two-sentence paragraphs. Each these methods make content material simpler to skim and take up.

2. It is lacking experience.

Which article would you moderately learn: “Tips on how to Go Viral on TikTok” or “How To Go Viral on TikTok, From 3 Creators Who’ve Accomplished It”?

I am prepared to wager the latter. That is the ability of experience — it immediately elevates any piece of content material with real-world expertise.

The issue? AI does not have any expertise. 

As Kaitlin Milliken, HubSpot Weblog’s Program Supervisor & Content material Editor, places it, “AI chatbots repackage data that we have heard 1,000,000 occasions earlier than. Should you’re on the lookout for a recent perspective, you will wish to attain out to a human knowledgeable.”

She provides, “Consultants have entry to the newest developments and more moderen knowledge than AI. Plus, they’ll pull from their real-world expertise. If there is a distinctive solution to clear up an issue or strategy a scenario, nothing compares to listening to from individuals who have lived by means of it.”

In addition to being an knowledgeable (or consulting one), you may weave experience into your content material in different methods.

For example, right here at HubSpot, lots of our articles embody real-world examples, unique knowledge, and “professional ideas.” These parts not solely improve the credibility of our content material but in addition pack extra worth for the reader.

3. It is outdated.

Once I requested ChatGPT to put in writing an article about BeReal, a preferred photo-sharing app that launched in late 2021, right here was its response:

This is not only a ChatGPT downside; all AI chatbots have data cut-offs. Should you use AI to put in writing about matters outdoors its scope, you danger producing outdated or irrelevant content material. 

Plus, when you think about that solely 45% of pros consider they might have the ability to inform if ChatGPT gave them fallacious data, it creates loads of room for error.

For Clint Fontanella, HubSpot Weblog Supervisor, one workaround is to make use of AI to summarize analysis, not search it out. 

He instructed me, “Whenever you need AI to put in writing about knowledge that’s outdoors its database, my advice is to repeat content material from an present on-line supply and ask it to summarize and rewrite within the fashion of your selecting.”

As for Milliken, she provides a fact-checking step into her modifying course of. In her personal phrases: “Earlier than you publish something written with AI, fact-checking is crucial. If AI references a sure enterprise or individual, make sure you double-check and see in the event that they nonetheless exist. ChatGPT can get these particulars fallacious.”

4. It sounds generic or bland.

“The primary time I ask AI to put in writing something for me, it often offers me essentially the most company, templated response you may consider. One thing that is tremendous impartial and seems like a robotic wrote it,” Fontanella instructed me.

That is relatable for a lot of AI customers, myself included. For instance, once I ask ChatGPT to “sound extra partaking,” it typically writes in its signature corporate-y fashion, however with double the exclamation factors.

For Fontanella, the secret’s tinkering with completely different styling prompts till you land on an output you want (e.g., “Sound extra lighthearted” or “Write within the tone of a HubSpot author”). Nevertheless, as he additionally factors out, this is not at all times an ideal resolution. You continue to must do some editorial heavy lifting earlier than taking your content material throughout the end line.

This might imply including humor, injecting private anecdotes, referencing popular culture, forming a novel opinion, or adopting a sure perspective. On this approach, you are utilizing AI as a basis to construct upon.

In Fontanella’s personal phrases: “Normally, AI cannot write a chunk that is on par with our commonplace of content material. Nevertheless, it could actually undoubtedly write just a few good sentences right here and there that may be the inspiration of your argument or paragraph. I extremely suggest cherry-picking sentences from paragraphs that you simply like after which rewriting the paragraph round that sentence.”

Again to You

AI affords a completely new solution to create content material, however it is not with out its limitations. This does not imply it is best to keep clear of those instruments. Nevertheless, it is best to leverage them as writing assistants, not as precise writers.

As a writing assistant, AI can suggest new concepts and angles, accumulate and summarize data, rephrase content material, and generate fundamental outlines, which you’ll be able to then elevate together with your creativity, experience, and perspective.