When Should Creators Use AI, and When Should They Not?
When deciding whether to use AI in content creation, there are several rules of thumb or litmus tests that can be very helpful. Here, I outline two primary tests to guide creators in making this decision.
Litmus Test #1: Transparency
Would you be willing to disclose that your content was created by AI? If the answer is no, and you’re attempting to mimic human creation, there may be an inherent inauthenticity. It’s best to avoid AI in these instances. However, if you’re comfortable with acknowledging AI’s role, it indicates a transparent and justifiable use of the tool.
Litmus Test #2: Discovery and Intent
Consider how your audience will discover your content. Is it something they might find while passively browsing, or are they actively searching for it? For example, my husband often searches for woodworking content at tobinwoodworks.com, expecting authentic, high-quality tutorials. In contrast, stumbling upon a fun fact through AI-generated content on social feeds can still offer value without the need for authenticity.
Guidelines for AI Integration
If your content passes these tests, consider how AI can serve as a tool rather than the sole content creator.
- Complementary Use: AI is best used alongside traditional tools like stock libraries, video editing software, or Grammarly. It can save time and enhance your capabilities without completely taking over the creative process.
Practical Examples of AI as a Tool
- Visual Content Creation: For a fun project, I experimented with transforming a casual selfie taken in my car. Initially, I used AI to change my hair color to blonde. While I’m no Photoshop expert, the AI efficiently handled this task, and though the result was not perfect, it was better than I could have done on my own — especially in that time frame. Encouraged by this, I then used AI to replace the mundane parking lot background with a scenic ocean road in Hawaii (because I’m a beach person). Without AI, I totally could have done this by deleting out the background in all the car windows, adding a layer, pasting in an ocean landscape and sizing it to fit just right to make it look realistic. But instead of taking all those steps manually, I used AI and got a great looking background in a matter of seconds. Finally, for a touch of whimsy, I added a cute little Jack Russell terrier to the backseat, a task that AI completed with ease. Could I have done that myself? Yes. Was it faster to have AI do it? Also, yes. Am I ashamed that I used AI to put that cute little doggy in my car? Absolutely not! This entire process highlighted the significant time savings and expanded creative possibilities afforded by AI.
- Writing and Editing: As a writer, I engage in extensive research on topics that interest me. This includes reading books, articles, listening to podcasts (love podcasts!), and analyzing research studies. When I find a particularly dense study, I might ask AI to review it as well. This dual approach helps me gather varied insights and deepen my articles. Additionally, AI serves as an invaluable editorial assistant. After drafting an article, I run it through an AI to assess if it fulfills its intended purpose. The AI acts like an editor, suggesting areas to tighten, expand, or reorganize, ensuring the content remains reader-focused and purpose-driven.
Controversial Uses and Ethical Considerations
I feel like having AI wholly create a piece of content is still controversial. For the most part, that makes sense to me — although there are use cases like YouTube videos thumbnails where AI generated images are fast becoming the norm and aren’t really controversial at all. But I think there’s a lot of space in letting AI assist in repurposing your original content into different formats like social media posts or marketing blurbs. When doing this, you can ask the AI to use your own writing voice and style in its output. I have found that even when you do this, you will still need to refine the outputs, but it does cut down process and time quite a bit, and you can feel good about repurposing your own original content to get the most out of your work.
Low-Hanging Fruit: Translation and Contextualization
AI is extremely useful in straightforward tasks like translating texts or altering product images to show different colors or settings. While not perfect, AI significantly reduces the time spent on these tasks, though a human review is still advisable to ensure quality.
In the vast and ever-evolving landscape of digital content creation, AI stands not just as a technological marvel but as a creative partner that amplifies our human capabilities. Whether it’s transporting yourself from a parking lot to Hawaii or enriching your writing, AI tools enable us to push the boundaries of creativity. As creators, it’s our responsibility to harness these tools wisely, blending them seamlessly with our unique voices and visions. The true artistry isn’t just in the tools we use, but in how we choose to use them.
