Today, I was reading a fascinating article on AI that was written by Stephen Moore over on Medium.
In it, an interesting assertion is made.
"Generated AI is de-leveling the market."
However, Stephen ends up making much harsher pronouncements as well with how the Industry around Writing and Content is changing with the Growth of AI.
In particular, this line stood out to me...
"As a result, its biggest success (of AI) has been to amplify the inherent laziness found in wannabe creators and bad actors and to give boardroom execs a way to cut out the "cost" of creativity - the humans who produce it."
As I read these words, as well as the entire article, I had a thought come to my Head.
Is it possible that AI will actually Increase the Value of Human Writers?
Now, I know you are likely asking how that could happen, especially when most Writers are worried they are about to lose their Careers to AI.
(Not for Unfounded Reasons either as it is True that Companies are Attempting to Reduce Costs via Replacing Humans with AI)
Well, let's look at something similar that has occurred with the Job Market.
Have you ever heard of the terms "White Collar Jobs" and "Blue Collar Jobs"?
Well, the Idea behind these names is that there were certain jobs, primarily corporate jobs, which required certain skills and talents that were considered "More Valuable".
Then, there were other jobs, primarily trade jobs, which were more manual labor and were considered "Less Valuable".
Well, when this thinking became the Norm, the Vast Majority of People flooded to land the "More Valuable" White Collar Jobs so that their Earning Potential could be Higher.
As this occurred, there were fewer and fewer people who learned the skills required for the "Less Valuable" Blue Collar Jobs.
So what happened?
Well, the Supply of People who were talented enough to do the still necessary Blue Collar Jobs dropped.
However, because those talents were still absolutely needed, sometimes desperately, the Value of Blue Collar Jobs Jumped.
What happened to White Collar Jobs?
Well, if you follow the trends, their Value has Decreased as the Supply of People with those skills Dramatically Increased.
Due to the Oversaturation, White Collar Jobs are Significantly "Less" Valuable than Blue Collar Jobs.
So much so that many young people are deciding to go to Trade Schools now because the Costs are Significantly Lower, and Job Prospects are Significantly Higher.
These young people are asking a great question...
Why would "Anyone" want to go to an Extremely Expensive College, to have Debt for the Rest of their Life that they will likely Never Pay Off, for a Dead-End White Collar Job with No Earning Potential?
So what does this have to do with AI?
Well, in some ways you could argue that "Writing" is being "Seen" in a similar vein to Blue Collar Work.
While on the other hand, "AI" is being "Seen" in a similar vein to White Collar Work.
As Stephen pointed out, AI is attracting Individuals who are "Lazier", "Wannabes", "Bad Actors", and "Cost-Cutters".
(Arguably Cutting Costs in the Wrong Places, as Creativity and Innovation usually go hand-in-hand)
Essentially, there are Few People who are willing to Dedicate the Time to Develop and Master the Art of Writing.
So what does this mean?
People are Flooding Out of the "Writing" Industry, which still has Extremely Valuable and Necessary components to it, to Pursue the "AI" Industry.
If AI fails to Replicate the Best Writers, as seems likely given the Current Trends in AI, then the Supply of Great Writers will Dramatically Decrease.
When AI Fails to get the Results necessary for Companies to Succeed, as AI "does" by design push to the "Average" (aka Mediocre, which means Death in Business), those Companies will be Forced to Re-Hire Human Writers "If" they want to Stand Out (Or Perish in Mediocrity).
However, with Fewer Human Writers left, they will be able to Demand Premiums for their Services.
Therefore, I believe that, in a Twist from the Common Belief, we may end up seeing that AI Increases the Value of Human Writers who Master their Craft.
This will allow them to Earn More - perhaps Significantly More.