I’ve been working as a copywriter for several years now, so I’ve watched the conversation about AI in the workplace go from theoretical to practical concern. There’s real anxiety there. Many worry that if they use AI to help with their work, they’re abandoning their craft. While I understand this fear, I also think it entirely misses the real issue.
I used to be wholly against AI. But I’ve come to a different conclusion about this emerging technology, especially when it comes to the workplace. When you’re hired to do a job, you’re hired to complete a specific task accurately and efficiently. If your employer has decided that AI is part of how that task gets done, then using AI is, at the end of the day, part of your responsibility. I don’t consider this to be a compromise of integrity as a writer or strategist. It’s the job you’ve agreed to do.
I acknowledge the concern without accepting the premise. People have real fear that using AI – depending on the field they’re in – could reduce them to “Mac Monkeys,” where they just prompt these technologies to complete a task and call it a day. This worry assumes that AI can write better material than a human can, which anyone who has used these technologies knows is untrue.
However, what AI can do is analyze data faster, research faster, and draft an initial copy much faster. But faster doesn’t necessarily mean better. Without a human touch, without human intervention, these technologies produce low-quality content.
In the world of professional copywriting, the goal is often a mix of speed, efficiency, and accuracy. Companies often need a certain volume of material to be completed in a given timeframe. A blog post must go live. An email needs to be sent. A newsletter needs compiling. Social media posts must be scheduled. In these situations, if AI can help you hit those deadlines without sacrificing quality, then not using it could be working against your employer’s interests.
But there’s a meaningful distinction that often is overlooked. I don’t use AI in my personal creative work. I’m currently working on a short film, and every frame, every word of the script, and every on-location decision will be made without the use of AI. The same goes for the creative prose that I work on outside of work. These projects demand something different than professional copywriting. They demand that I sit with the work, wrestling with language. I accept that occasional inefficiencies are necessary to bring something to life that is completely mine.
Often, those who dismiss AI in the writing process are the same ones who don’t distinguish between a deadline-driven marketing copy and a carefully crafted personal essay. These are different problems, with different solutions. A copywriter pumping out website content under time constraints faces a different set of challenges than the novelist who is working on a manuscript that might take years to finish.
I admit that the fear of becoming a "Mac Monkey" might be legitimate for some in certain roles, but it's not a universal problem. It's a sign that you need to be intentional about where and how you use these tools. Use them where your job demands speed and scalability. But when it comes to your own work – the stuff that demands soul and personal experience – feel free to leave it behind.
Nevertheless, I feel that the AI question is going to sort itself out the same way every other workplace technology has. We once had whole buildings full of people filling out physical spreadsheets, but those days are virtually all gone. There’s always skepticism around emerging technologies, but eventually they are embraced.
We shouldn’t be afraid to explore the very best parts of new technology. The printing press, the automobile, the internet, smartphones – people decried the advent of all these technologies at one point or another. But now, no one is lamenting the success of the printing press.
Collin Jones holds a BA in Film and an MFA in prose writing. Before transitioning into marketing, he worked as an editor at Blaze Media. He is the author of the novel "Project: Sleepless Dream" and a short story collection called "The Desertianists." In his free time, he writes on "Concordant Student."
This culture article was made possible by The Fred & Rheta Skelton Center for Cultural Renewal, a project of 1819 News. To comment on this article, please email [email protected]. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News.
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