The newest antagonist in an old battle
The media acts like AI is something new. In reality, its output is much more advanced than it used to be, partially because developers think it is okay to input everything within reach.
Since the advent of personal computers, artists and other creatives have suffered from a lack of respect for actual skill and experience. Many people still think anything they see on the internet is free for the taking, regardless of copyrights and watermarks. AI developers just takes that free-for-all mentality and gets computers to do the dirty work.
I am a graphic designer and marketing/technical writer. Even back when print projects were the norm, there were people who acted it was all done by the computer and, therefore, easy. About 1999, I worked for a large manufacturer of engineered products. One person (from another department) decided his Six Sigma Green Belt project would eliminate my involvement in creating one-page case histories, which I had developed. He thought he could “automate” the process, using only the few notes the sales people provided. Now, our sales people were great at what they did, but not at writing terse copy or taking great photos. He didn’t realize that I actually used my brain to – in less than 100 words – describe the customer’s need and our technical solution, highlight the key points, and pair the copy with a visually-strong photo. You guessed it: he got nowhere with his project.
Today it is “easy” to slap together some words and images using readily-available apps, even some with a variety of templates. But are they the best combination? Does the piece reflect the quality of your product or service? Does it drive customers to action? Does it set it apart from your competitors’ products? Is it even noticed?
Don’t settle for “just good enough” or a machine that spits out something generic. Invest in a professional. Save the AI for more mindless tasks.
