Medium’s recent policy against AI-generated content has highlighted a crucial misunderstanding in the discourse – confusing AI-generated with AI-assisted content.

This misunderstanding not only stifles innovation but also overlooks AI’s potential to amplify human creativity.

As an advocate for AI-assisted content creation, I aim to demystify AI’s capabilities, teaching entrepreneurs, marketers, and small business owners how to craft compelling content through AI prompt engineering.

As someone who is profoundly dyslexic, I never thought I would write a book without a team of editors, co-authors and other people working tirelessly behind the scenes to polish my creative process.

With the assistance of AI, it’s been made possible.

​I’m no longer held back by my disabilities. My creative output has never been higher. I’m still disabled, but after over a decade, AI has given me back my voice.

In 2007 I suffered a traumatic brain injury while undergoing training in the Australian Defence Force. I’ve never been the same since.

I struggled for years to understand what happened to me.

It took almost a decade before I was diagnosed and finally diagnosed with something.

I had batteries of tests from cardiological studies walking around with a halter monitor for a week at a time, to being hooked up to a computer via what felt like hundreds of neurological probes to examine my brain.

At one stage, I was told I was diabetic. Another, I was told I was epileptic. Later, I was told it was an aneurysm. Next a heart defect. Finally, after years, I was diagnosed with cPTSD and severe anxiety.

Recent studies by Google have shown that AI outperforms even the most skilled of doctors. Human doctors perform the worst when it comes to diagnosis. Human doctors who use search engines were then next, followed by augmented doctors who used AI assistance. Fully AI diagnosis was found to be the most accurate and precise.

With evidence like that it’s clear the bots are better than us. The genie is already out of the bottle. Pandora’s box Is not closing.

Not using AI would be demanding that we all return to drawing on cave walls and producing manuscripts under the instructions of monks.

​There’s nothing wrong with using ink, parchment, and quill… but I doubt your publisher will accept your handwritten, ink-blotted book. I know mine wouldn’t.

It’s no wonder then that AI is causing disruptions in the writing process. It is an innovation unparalleled to when Gutenberg invented the printing press.

I get people feel threatened.

However, blanket restrictions on AI content, such as those imposed by Medium, risk hindering the creative potential AI offers. It also has unintended consequences.

While the policy seems level-headed and fair at first glance, an astute evaluation will see that it creates a discriminatory class culture between those who feel pure, unsullied by the taint that is AI-generated content, and those heathens who require the use of the tools to perform at a similar level.

You either write as we say or we’ll label your work like the fake writer you are.

I’m paraphrasing of course, but I’ve seen the pitchforks come out.

It’s only a matter of time before cancel culture takes over.

​As writers we’re supposed to be better than that.

The problem with the approach of demanding AI content be labeled and banned from circulation I have already highlighted in a previous article.

It’s discriminatory and causes authors with disabilities to be treated unfairly.

That’s not even mentioning the poor straw-man argument I have seen most often raised.

Because AI is a machine, it lacks emotion. It must, therefore, only be fit to do menial duties and perform the drudgery of life. We can’t have it do something as human as write. It has the vigor, the docility, and the fidelity to do anything but.

I mean, after all , we must have some class like that in society; otherwise, civilization wouldn’t progress, right?

Newsflash.

​James Henry Hammond said the same thing about African Americans in 1858 in his speech before the U.S. Senate defending slavery:

“In all social systems, there must be a class to do the menial duties, to perform the drudgery of life. That is, a class requiring but a low order of intellect and but little skill. Its requisites are vigor, docility, fidelity. Such a class you must have, or you would not have that other class which leads progress, civilization, and refinement.”

AI-generated content might often lack the nuanced understanding of a human touch but that is only because it is reflecting the instructions being given to it. When we transition from AI-Generated to AI-Assisted this becomes obvious. AI-assisted content, merges AI’s computational power with human creativity and ethical judgment.

Where the first might be categorised as naive and stupid – a smoke and mirror parlour trick of statistical prowess – lacking foresight and ability to comprehend the text written, the latter is a mastery of man and machine; a synergistic creation where both are elevated to their true potential unlimited by physical or psychological disabilities.

I know because I created my own AI Agent who acts as a digital companion and have been using it since May of last year. Without it I would not be here today.

As with all arguments driven by fear, the issue lies in the broad over-categorization of AI content. Such generalities neglect the nuanced capabilities of AI-assisted methodologies.

​Overgeneralization not only limits creators but also perpetuates the myth that AI cannot coexist with authentic, engaging content creation. This stance challenges entrepreneurs and marketers who rely on AI as a tool for enhancing, not replacing, the human element in content creation.

If I was to listen to one author, the fact I just used bold font in that paragraph then must mean that was written by AI. Such is the folly being bandied about.

When any new technology comes out there is always an element who resist due to fear of the unknown. I am constantly reminded of the lamp lighters who went on strike in England when electricity was invented. Understanding and leveraging AI in content creation is not just a skill but it is an essential one that will only become a necessity in the modern digital economy.

AI prompt engineering offers an approach to content creation, enabling personalised, engaging, and highly relevant content – when done right.

​When the right strategies aren’t used, it is no different to attempting to write a fantastic novel when you refuse to read the content you aim to write. Of course it will lack depth, understanding, nuance, emotion and relative insight.

The approach to utilizing AI in content creation is twofold. First, it involves understanding the mechanics of AI and how it can be guided to generate content that aligns with specific goals and audiences. Second, it requires a deep dive into prompt engineering – crafting prompts that leverage AI’s capabilities to produce content that is both innovative and reflective of the creator’s intent.

Incorporating AI in content creation does not mean compromising on ethics or losing humanity. By setting clear boundaries and guidelines, creators can use AI responsibly to enhance their content.

AI-assisted content creation allows for the exploration of new ideas and perspectives, driven by data and insights that would be difficult to achieve at scale manually.

In a saturated digital market, the ability to quickly produce tailored, high-quality content can set a brand apart. The inability to wield this newfound mastery can likewise tank a brand’s reputation should they think it is as easy as every “BitCoin-Turned-AI-Marketing-Guru” is now trying to convince you.

My good friend Jim the AI Whisperer
​recently showed just how important this can be by highlighting the errors of Lego’s inept image generation in a likely marketing stunt go wrong (check the article out here). I won’t steal his thunder but be sure to pay attention to the likely consequences of copyright infringement and appropriation.

AI prompt engineering provides the edge needed to prevent poor performance, enabling more dynamic and responsive content strategies, boosting productivity; but it’s not an excuse to be lazy.

Recognising that there is a clear need for real education I have written a book on this very topic, instructing people how to write effective prompts.

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Prompt Secrets – Learn How to Persuade, Perform and Prevail with AI. Advanced cover Art. Preorder now at www.rhemlabs.com.au/p

The real-world applications of AI in content creation are vast. From automating routine content tasks to generating data-driven insights for personalized content strategies, AI-assisted content creation can significantly impact engagement metrics, SEO rankings, and, ultimately, business growth. However, none of this can be realized if workers don’t know how to use the tools.

While the benefits of AI-assisted content are clear, it’s crucial to acknowledge its limitations and potential pitfalls. Concerns about over-reliance on AI, the potential for generating misleading or inaccurate content, and the loss of personal touch might be valid… for now.

But a craftsperson should not blame their tools.

Technology has progressed and many of the arguments gaining traction within the communities of Luddites fail to realise the enterprise solutions being implemented at scale have solved these problems.

Just as there are people who commune and live without the wonders of the internet or electricity, there will still be people who will live without AI.

Yet, if we bring our focus back to formulaic writing we can easily draw a comparison between AI-generated content and many of the fantasy novels millions continue to enjoy around the world.

The future of content creation is collaborative, with AI serving as a powerful tool in the creator’s arsenal. By embracing AI-assisted content creation, writers can unlock new levels of creativity and efficiency.

I urge readers to explore the potential of AI prompt engineering, not as a replacement for human creativity but as an enhancement, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in digital content creation.

​We don’t need more segregation.