Human Writers vs ChatGPT: Who Wins the Battle as the Better Option for Your Content Writing Needs?

Like it or not, Artificial Intelligence is already streamlining the way we all do business, content creation included. And while we writers chew our nails watching current and potential customers try ChatGPT, I would argue there are ways writers and ChatGPT can work together in harmony. Not perfect harmony, mind you, but harmony, nonetheless. Because each has its own shortcomings and advantages, I see opportunities for writers to fill in the gaps ChatGPT’s text generation technology leaves and vice versa.

For those who aren’t yet familiar, ChatGPT is an advanced language model powered by machine learning. And it’s popular because of its ability to generate human-like text. So you can see why writers are walking around with nubs where their fingernails used to be.

But is ChatGPT a better option than human writers for content creation needs? Time will tell.

But here are some pros and cons to consider while we watch AI’s evolution, followed by opportunities writers and ChatGPT can collaborate to deliver outstanding content to our mutual clients.

Advantages of Hiring a Writer:

Creativity: Human writers can produce unique content and creative writing that captures the reader’s attention while delivering brand messaging.

Emotion: Human writers can infuse emotion into their writing, making the content more relatable and engaging for readers.

Personal Touch: Human writers can tailor their writing style and tone to match a brand’s voice with personal touch algorithms can’t.

Adaptability: Human writers can quickly adapt to project changes, ensuring that the content meets the client’s objectives.

A Writer’s Disadvantages:

Time and Cost: Hiring a human writer can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for large-scale projects.

Human Error: Human writers are prone to errors, such as spelling and grammar mistakes, which can affect the quality of the content.

Limited Availability: Human writers are not available 24/7, which can affect project deadlines and timelines.

ChatGPT Advantages:

Speed and Efficiency: ChatGPT can generate content quickly and efficiently, saving time and reducing costs.

Consistency: ChatGPT can produce consistent content that can adhere to a brand’s voice and tone.

Data Analysis: ChatGPT can analyze data and user feedback to optimize content and improve performance.

Scalability: ChatGPT can produce a large amount of content in a short period, making it ideal for large-scale projects.

Disadvantages of Using ChatGPT:

Lack of Emotion and Personal Touch: ChatGPT lacks the ability to infuse emotion and personal touch into the content, making it less engaging for readers.

Limited Understanding of Nuances: ChatGPT may struggle with understanding complex topics or nuances, leading to inaccuracies in the content.

Security Concerns: ChatGPT relies on storing large amounts of data, raising concerns about data security and privacy.

Cost of ChatGPT v. Cost of Writer

There is no question that ChatGPT is cheaper than a writer. But what if you’re not happy with the sterile tone?

Let’s say you opt for ChatGPT’s Plus plan for $240 per year, or $20 per month. Prior to ChatGPT, you’d been getting good results paying a writer $800 for 8 posts a month, or $100 per 500-word post. $20 versus $800 is a huge savings, right?

But if you aren’t happy with the tone, voice and style of the AI writing, you’re going to need to hire an editor. Editing for tone, voice and style is called substantial or developmental editing. And it’s expensive. A decent editor charges around $40 per hour. If it takes that editor two hours to edit each of the 8 posts, you’ve just added another $640 to your writing bill. AI is cheaper yes, but not as easy as it seems from the outset.

Now let’s look at core opportunities where writers can work with AI to deliver optimal content to its mutual customers:

Opportunities for ChatGPT and Writers to work together:

• Provide on-brand tone, voice and style in less time: A writer working with AI directly can produce a satisfying deliverable in less time with no additional editing costs or research needed.
• Eradicate errors: If ChatGPT and writers are both prone to errors, isn’t working together prone to catch those errors? Double insurance.
• Cost: AI is cheaper, but there are hidden costs to consider that may make hiring a writer that works with AI on their own more cost efficient.

This post’s headline suggested writers were in a knockout fight with Artificial Intelligence. But it’s ended with both still standing. Better still, those investing in both contenders cash in with handsome returns. To prove this point, this article took approximately two hours to write working off text and keywords ChatGPT generated. It usually takes this writer four hours to research, organize and write a post worthy of reading. Check out the ChatGPT’s initial draft of this post here and decide for yourself which you prefer.

Sweet Relief Creative is all about efficient time management. We are here to help you produce what you just don’t have the time or energy to produce. Give us a call and let’s discuss opportunities to save time and money on your upcoming project.