“Will ChatGPT replace me?” is the wrong question
AI is breathing down content and copywriters’ necks. It’s scary to think technology could replace you, leaving “writer” in the heap of discarded job titles alongside “travel agent” and “switchboard operator.”
But you see, that’s where you’re misunderstanding what it is you do.
Imagine, if you will, that you’re no longer a writer.
(Don’t freak out, this is just an analogy.)
You are now a soap maker.
Anyone can buy soap at the store. A bar of Irish Spring is, like, 75¢. It’s easy, mass produced, and probably generates an insane amount of income. You can find it pretty much anywhere and it will always be the same product every time you buy it.
But your soap is eight bucks a bar. You make each one by hand, and it’s taken you years to get the chemistry just right. You’ve dedicated a massive amount of time and effort to making the beautiful, giftable bars that anyone would be proud to display. But not just anyone can buy them — you only sell your soaps in your own store and to select vendors.
You know your soap is worth eight dollars (probably more, if you’re honest with yourself and priced your work fairly) just like you know Irish Spring is worth less than one.
Does that mean Irish Spring is an inferior product? Ten times worse than what you create? Of course not. There’s nothing wrong with a no-frills tried and true product. It gets the job done the same way every time, and that’s great. That’s exactly what it’s supposed to do.
All it means is that it’s not exceptional.
Some people don’t have the need, desire, or budget for specialty soaps. They just need to get clean. They don’t want to go above and beyond.
But some people do. Those people recognize the value of custom goods.
