There’s a lot of fear out there about AI taking the jobs of copywriters, designers and other freelancers.
And fair enough.
With commodity services… AI is chomping hard at some heels.
But I’m seeing what looks like people stoking the fires of AI fear… to cash in on it.
Now it could be that the gurus and industry experts are genuinely wanting to help people navigate this uncertain time.
I’m sure some of them are.
But just today I was at a webinar that was talking about AI taking over. They were saying they had a course so you can learn more about these important changes.
They were also saying it’s only $300. And we’ve priced it low so we can get the info into your hands. And they also said it wasn’t about them making money.
Well.. I find it really hard to take that seriously.
I mean… it sure looks like they’d be cashing a fat cheque from those course fees.
Empathising when people are feeling fearful and offering them a helpful solution… I have no trouble with.
But there’s a fine line here…
Particularly when the solution you have is really not testable.
I mean:
Who knows what’s really going to be happening with AI in 1, 6, or 12 months time from now?
Cashing in on fear like this… carries this tinge of unethicalness for me.
So I’m a bit cautious about rushing off to sign up for courses and whatnot.
Even though I do have my own questions about what AI might hold for the future.
I’ll start worrying a bit more when shape-shifting liquid metal T-1000s start turning up in my neighborhood.
Apart from maybe a couple of the emails that I send… I think AI would have a hard time replicating what I write.
Reason being — not that I’m a world-class copywriter or the best email writer in the world — but these emails reflect me.
I can be a bit erratic. A little up, down, left, right and sideways. Prone to random word coining. And I enjoy a laugh… but can be serious too.
I like to think my style isn’t that easy to pin down. (Correct me if I’m delusional here!)
Plus: Writing isn’t the only thing I do — or plan to do — as a freelance business owner.
You see…
AI is going to have a hard time turning up to run a group coaching call and convincing people that they really are Chris.
But I am concerned for people who are becoming afraid and letting their fear drive their decisions to buy courses and various things that perhaps they don’t need.
That energy and concern for future work security could instead be redirected towards gaining skills to ensure they’re irreplaceable by AI.
That is… learning higher level skills, such as marketing strategy. And working on interpersonal skills to better relate to other people.
Anyway, that’s my simplisticocious thoughts on AI.
I’m interested in your thoughts…
How are you responding to the changes that AI is bringing?
I wish you all a great rest of the weekend.
P.S. If you’re in a Black Friday work frenzy like I am with a gazillion emails to write and send… hope that all goes well for you.
Don’t get too carried away with those Black Friday sales. I’m hiding my own credit cards for a week!
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Chris Milham