6 reasons why AI/LLMs won’t replace content designers

I’ve seen some chatter about how ChatGPT might replace content designers, and I want to debunk it and give other content designers a reference point.

Here are 6 reasons (probably an incomplete list) why it’s not our time to go:

1. Part of content design is about understanding the facts. These facts aren’t usually well-documented and tend to become apparent through conversations and workshops. This is a human skill.
2. Even if the facts are apparent (eg the system behind the experience, the adjacent research), it’d take longer to compile them in a readable way than it’d take a content designer to produce great content design.
3. Even if the facts are apparent, we shouldn’t feel comfortable handing them over to a third party. It risks breaching confidentiality and most likely handing over personally identifiable information that could be misused.
4. Being a great content designer requires empathy and intuition, and being able to anticipate how words might land the wrong way or be interpreted badly in a stress case. AI can’t understand this nuance.
5. AI isn’t self-governing. Good content design requires maintenance, to make sure that words still reflect the facts and surrounding context of a scenario.
6. AI doesn’t do stakeholder management. It can’t predict legal risk, nor can it do the work of ensuring that a particular product experience is consistent with another and adherent to content standards.

So… share this with your teams anytime they suggest replacing you with AI.