Ten Reasons To Use A Human For Editing AI Content
Full disclosure: it costs money to get a human to edit AI content. Not a lot, but certainly more than the zero you’d pay to use the basic AI-based proofreaders out there.
“Why would I bother then?” I hear you cry. “AI doesn’t need to eat or pay rent or go to the pub, so it means I can save money.”
And you’d be absolutely right… if you’re making your content decisions primarily on price. That might save you money in the short-term - but it risks leaving you with sub-standard content which doesn’t deliver the value you or your business are looking for in the long run.
Still not convinced? Here are ten compelling reasons why, if you generate AI content for your business, you should hire a professional to edit it for you:
1: We can check facts and sources (properly!)
There are countless stories of AI misinterpreting information, or generating content that is misleading, inaccurate or even defamatory. Putting this into the public domain can be hugely damaging for a business - legally, reputationally and financially - and AI tools can’t always be relied upon to iron all of these issues out.
An experienced, professional human can thoroughly check every source and fact, and flag up any potential issues that may need further review at your end.
2: We can take specific requests and instructions on board
If you have some particular objectives or goals from your content, you’ll need to be able to prompt your chosen AI tool to do so. The more specific and complex the request, the more detailed the prompt will have to be. This can be difficult in practice, take time to finesse, and may take repeated attempts to get absolutely right.
But these are the kind of requests that experienced human editors can take in their stride, crafting revisions with these instructions in mind.
3: We can appeal to target audiences and demographics
Similar to the previous point, humans are better-placed to shape copy creatively to appeal to specific audiences and demographics. For example, we understand that referencing famous Internet memes are more likely to resonate with a younger audience than an older one. Achieving this with an AI tool is likely to need considerable prompting and refining, whereas a human can aim for this at the first time of asking.
4: We can apply house style and tone of voice
If you’re a business owner or decision-maker reading this, then you’ll almost certainly be familiar with your organisation’s branding - which will include written style and tone of voice. These lists of “dos and don’ts” can become extensive and are often far more granular in nature than the more general content that an AI tool would normally generate.
A human can read that style guide, read the content being edited, and make changes accordingly - without needing to be asked twice.
5: We can fully track what we’ve changed
I personally despise the Track Changes tool within Word or Google Docs with a passion. It makes documents difficult to read, and often muddies the waters in terms of who has changed what - especially if multiple people are contributing to the same document.
I won’t name the former client of mine who once had no less than ELEVEN staff members make changes to the same eBook I’d written (by the time it came back to me, it looked like it had been cornered and savagely beaten by a multipack of highlighter pens!).
However, for AI content editing, even I have to admit that it’s an incredibly useful tool. It provides a clear audit trail of what was changed and how, so that you can understand the scale of the improvement - and the value of using a human editor.
6: We can explain what we’ve changed
What Track Changes can’t do, however, is explain why certain bits of copy have been changed. It’s why I personally prefer to annotate copy I’ve changed and explain my rationale, so that everyone can understand the ideal direction of travel.
In the context of AI content editing, the best of both worlds is ideal: Track Changes for the what, and explanatory comments for the why. Collectively, these processes make sure there is no room for ambiguity at any point in the content.
7: We can maximise searchability
It takes a lot of effort to stand out from the crowd on Google or other searchable platforms. You need everything going your way, including compelling headings and meta descriptions, and balanced use of keywords, to rank above your competitors.
Using AI to generate content - even though there are keyword-adders and other tools available - doesn’t help you get past the filters than penalise artificially-created writing. A human can look at all of these areas and give every piece of content the best chance of being searchable and easy to find.
8: We can make content unique and appealing
That searchability work also opens up a good opportunity to add some creative flair into the content. Much of the content that AI generates can often be dry, functional and lacking any real emotional drivers - especially in a B2B context where the subject matter can often be formal and corporate.
I believe very strongly that businesspeople - even senior CEOs and multinational leaders - are still people that you can connect with on a personal level. They get enough grey, dreary rubbish to read through and scroll past on LinkedIn every day, so why not put something in front of them they can engage with?
9: We can add humour - where appropriate
Perhaps ‘humour’ isn’t the best word to describe this point: maybe the word should be ‘subjectivity’. Adding humour can make a real difference to a reader’s engagement with, and enjoyment of, any written content. But it’s vital to know how and where to apply it, because what people find funny can vary enormously from one individual or group to another.
Think of Frankie Boyle, for example: many people love his bluntness and how he pushes the limits of comedy… but many others find him offensive. That understanding and subjectivity is something that requires a human connection above all else.
10: You can invest in the creative industry
It’s no secret that the growth of AI has threatened the growth and success of a creative industry that employs millions of people around the world. The more that people and businesses rely on AI, the more likely it is that the power of professional human creativity will be lost - and once that talent is lost, it won’t be coming back.
Investing in human touch AI content editing not only helps you get better content - but it also means you’re doing your bit to support a sector going through some tough times.