Artificial intelligence (AI) is handy for generating acceptable text, especially when you lack the time or resources to produce custom-written prose.

While ChatGPT and other generative AI tools can assist in generating a first draft, they lack the human nuance, insight, and emotional depth that makes good writing resonate with readers.

TL;DR: Editing exists for a reason and it always will. AI editing is extraordinary. Even in April 2023, ChatGPT was already nailing it with a score of 15/17 on the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading’s test.

If you believe in the power of your own writing without the help of AI, then you are not alone! Writing helps you to think. By starting with your own idea, your own outline and your own first draft, you can often produce your best work.

I’m still an AI cynic. Everyone should continue to push for transparency, fairness, and ethical practices in the development and use of AI. We must also be mindful of the potential social and economic impacts of AI, and work to address all of the popular misconceptions about what it is. From there, we can work to stop its misuse.

The first time I saw ChatGPT simplify some text, my jaw dropped wide open. I asked myself if editing would ever be the same again. I watched as ChatGPT simplified one sentence. Then ChatGPT converted another to plain English. The results were staggering.