Leveraging AI for Effective Writing: The Art of Input
In the ever-evolving landscape of content creation, leveraging AI has become a game-changer for many writers. However, amidst the myriad of discussions surrounding AI and its applications, it seems that some fundamental aspects are being overlooked. Engaging in conversations with fellow business associates and observing posts from many that I have been familiar with over recent years, I’ve come to realise that the basics are being missed by many.
I am no expert, I had to learn how to use AI, but clearly not everyone has. It’s becoming easy to spot who has just handed everything over to the AI technology and is wallowing in the glory of the hours AI is apparently saving them. But at what cost?
Because some of the writing just isn’t good!
Personality of voice has been lost to a factual listing approach in a flat AI generic monotone! You can't run before you can walk, the basics need to be learned. For those of us simply aiming to harness AI's potential to benefit our businesses without delving into the intricacies of AI technology, perhaps it's time for a step back and a slightly different approach. This underscores the importance of understanding the fundamentals of AI and mastering the art of input – providing the right information to elicit the desired output. In this post, we'll delve into the significance of feeding AI with the right data to craft authentic blog posts that resonate with your voice and style.
Understand the Power of Input
AI, like any tool, operates based on the information it receives. When it comes to writing blog posts or anything of similar nature, the quality and specificity of the input directly impacts the quality of the output. It matters. You need to get it right. Providing accurate detail ensures that the AI can extract all the nuances it needs to enable it to mimic your tone and style effectively. I’ll break this down focusing on three areas that are essential for first maintainIng and then, at the same time improving the quality of your writing.
Clarity and Specificity
Being crystal clear and highly specific about the subject matter, the desired tone, and the preferred style are of huge importance. When you provide detailed instructions, you're essentially giving AI a roadmap to follow. It's like giving directions to a friend – the clearer you are, the better they can understand you and see where they need to go. AI will grasp your intentions with precision, allowing it to tailor its response in a manner that aligns seamlessly with your expectations.
Provide Examples
Illustrating your writing style with tangible examples serves as a beacon for AI and is an important factor, guiding it to emulate your voice more faithfully. Think of it as showing AI snapshots of your writing in action. By providing it with excerpts or samples of your work, you're essentially saying, "This is how I write; this is the rhythm, the flow, the tone I aim for." Examples serve as reference points and talking to AI as if it were another person will actually help it fine-tune its output, ensuring that it captures the essence of your voice with greater accuracy.
Contextual Information
Context is the lifeblood of meaningful communication. It's not just about what you say; it's about the why, the where, and the how behind it. When providing contextual information to AI, you're essentially painting the bigger picture – offering background details, relevant data points, and any other pertinent information that enriches the content and adds depth to the narrative. Again, talk to it in some way you would tell the information to another person. This contextual richness not only enhances the authenticity of the output but also ensures that the AI produces content that resonates with the intended audience on a deeper level.
This does take some time
Using AI shouldn’t mean that you make a 90% time saving; that is corner-cutting that is costing people the quality and ultimately will lose them in a sea of boring textual normality which at some point not too far into the future – nobody will be reading! Currently, I reckon my time save in real terms is close to 50% – no more.
So, let’s just stop for a moment and take a rain check:
Everything you have read so far has had the input and help from AI. Every paragraph (apart from this one) I have used AI output to create, but only after I have been through the process of applying the aforementioned points above. And, furthermore, everything has had a final ’tweak’ from me.
The Real AI Advantage
AI is a marvel at crunching through vast troves of data and weaving them into coherent narratives. It's like having a tireless assistant who can sift through mountains of information, distilling it down into compelling blog posts and the like. When you tap into its capabilities and feed it with the right input, it will streamline your workflow and ensure that your voice remains genuine and resonant throughout.
You don’t need advanced skills and high-tech programmes to achieve a reasonable standard of written output. I did this using Chat GPT-3 – the free version, which, after a long discussion with it and some background research added (that it advised me to do), it came up trumps. I can tell you that there have been significant platform learning improvements – in spite of it having an overall input date limit from January 2022. You see, Artificial intelligence does learn from it’s collective input and responds in enhanced ways. I use other programmes for other applications such as graphics – something I apply in a lot of areas. Some I pay for, some I don’t, but the approach is the same. It is all about accuracy and detail of input albeit with some trial and error.
Conclusion
In the realm of blog writing, there's a timeless truth: "garbage in, garbage out." What you put into AI significantly impacts what you get out of it. Understanding this crucial principle is key for writers looking to leverage AI effectively. So, provide clear and precise input, unleash the full potential of AI, craft your writing so that it not only captivates but also authentically reflects your unique voice and style. Using it properly, you are not going to be able to save 90% of your time but you will save a lot and get better results, The time it takes me to produce stuff using AI is coming down bit by bit as I learn more. Embrace the process of getting AI to work for you, and make sure you never lose the natural voice our writing speaks through .
