Writers versus digital content creators: Who is using AI?

Image by Sam Williams from Pixabay

Convertkit, a popular platform for creators focussed on email marketing, has just released their 2023 report on the state of the creator economy. The report interviews over 1200 creators on various topics, one of which is on their adoption (or not) of AI.

Side note: I’m a big fan of Convertkit and believe that if you are looking to start an online business that is not only dependent on the creative art of writing, it is the best platform to start building your email list.

In other words, if you are looking to ‘sell’ anything or grow your audience using lead magnets or digital courses and ebooks, or build your first funnel, Convertkit is a great place to get started.

The landing page for my newsletter for this website is hosted on Convertkit and I also use it for my newsletter for Working Mums. Anyway, I digress.

The results of their survey are interesting because they show the distinct differences in uptake of AI between writers who write content (for brands, clients, websites ie copywriters) and writers who write literary books and essays.

Here are some top figures from the report:

• 34% of creators incorporated AI tools last year
• 51% want to try them this year
• 11% of creators are concerned about keeping content original
• 32% of creators feel they need more familiarity with AI to know where to start
• 22% think AI tools are too expensive

Marketers, digital content creators and bloggers are the top three creator types who use AI most often.

Writers and other ‘creative’ creators such as designers, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, used AI the least last year. This suggests that these creators are likely the most worried about the impact of AI on their ability to produce original content, both visually and through the written word.

The debate here is expected and complex.

On one side you have publishers like the New York Times prohibiting AI to scrape its data, and on the other side you have the likes of AP signing a deal with Open AI to collaborate. Artist rights are also being debated with AI image tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion.

As communications professionals, we want our work to be done better and faster; as creators we want to safeguard the originality and human aspect of non-AI generated content.

As someone who is both a communications professional and a creator, I’m really not sure where I sit with it and find it premature to attempt a debate. I think there is a place for both arguments.

What kind of writer are you? Where are you on your AI journey?

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