I get asked a lot about the future of the writing profession, given the obvious potential of AI technology to replace people like me. I have two answers, because there are two kinds of writing.
The first covers original reporting in journalism and creative writing. There will be a place for both in the foreseeable future, no doubt. The former plays a fundamental role in a liberal democracy. The latter meets a deep-seated need we all have for people’s stories.
The second covers what I call functional writing — media releases, white papers and the like. I expect that kind of work to be automated before my career is over (which is to say in the decade ahead). If you disagree, ask yourself how often you look for an author’s name before reading something.
I recognize that there is a lot that falls into the cracks between those two categories. Ad copywriting has long been a highly creative exercise, for example. My hunch though, is that a lot more assignments will end up in the functional category than my fellow writers would like.
Turns out there are two kinds of wealth management as well. A report released this month by McKinsey & Company says those focused on delivering outputs will see their businesses jeopardized by AI. Those focused on outcomes will do better.
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