November 2022—remember that month?
Yeah, that’s when ChatGPT and its AI writing crash-landed into our lives, sparking all kinds of doomsday chatter.
“The death of the author!” cried The New Statesman. “The College Essay Is Dead”, published The Atlantic. If you blinked, you missed other headlines like “I’m a Copywriter, I’m pretty sure artificial intelligence is going to take my job” on The Guardian.
A few months down the line, however, the narrative changed.
The Atlantic noted “ChatGPT Is Dumber Than You Think”, and pointed out “What Poets Know That ChatGPT Doesn’t.” The Economic Times said, “AI Makes Writing Easier, But Stories Sound Alike.” And The MIT Tech Review promised, “ChatGPT Is Going To Change Education, Not Destroy It.”
Fast forward to 2024, and we’ve all settled down a bit.
AI’s helping with research, writing, and productivity, but guess what?
It’s not replacing human bloggers. At least not yet.
When the AI Party Gets Out of Hand
Look, AI is pretty smart. It can analyze data faster than a sugar-crazed toddler can run. But using AI tools blindly for research can be like driving with busted GPS – sure, it’ll get you somewhere, but it might also lead you straight into a lake or dead-end.
Just ask New York attorney Steven Schwartz, who learned the hard way. Schwartz trusted ChatGPT to research legal precedents for a lawsuit against Colombian airline Avianca. Spoiler alert: ChatGPT made up SIX cases out of thin air! Schwartz admitted to using ChatGPT, “unaware of the possibility that its content could be false.” The U.S. District Judge slapped Schwartz with a $5,000 fine, and his case got dismissed. Ouch.
Air Canada’s AI chatbot assistant once “lied” to a passenger, resulting in heavy penalties for the airline.
And Microsoft’s experimental AI chatbot, Tay, built to write things on Twitter, turned into a racist, misogynistic nightmare posting some 95,000 tweets within 16 hours of launch.
These AI mishaps? They’re proof that without supervision, AI can land you in a hot mess.
Misinformation Mania: Why Original Research Is The Blogger’s Golden Ticket
Here’s the thing: AI-generated content is, by nature, a remix of what’s already floating around the internet—a Frankenstein’s monster of recycled information. AI relies on patterns, which means it lacks soul and can get predictable. It’s like making a smoothie from last week’s leftovers – you’re technically getting something new, but it’s just a mash-up of what’s already old.
Sure, AI can help bloggers crank out thousands of words in minutes.
But what about originality?
What about quality?
Content and content marketing, AI-driven or not, is not just about generating words. It’s also about delivering valuable insights and building relationships with readers.
Ali Rahimi, an AI researcher at Google, nailed it when he said a lot of AI development feels like “alchemy”—it’s more guesswork than hard science. Throw in some bad data, and you’re serving misinformation soup… with a side of mistrust croutons.
A 2023 MIT survey found that 83% of machine learning professionals see identifying AI bias as a major issue.
Researchers at USC found bias in 38.6% of “facts” used by AI.
And Stanford discovered AI’s tendency to hallucinate answers (yeah, it makes things up like it’s telling a tall tale), citing that while three-quarters of lawyers plan on using AI, AI currently “makes up” false information for as much as 1 out of 6 (or more!) queries.
Bias leads to misinformation, which leads to, well… bad content (and a blog no one trusts).
Want to stand out from the AI-generated noise? Be really original.
77% of internet users still read blogs, and they aren’t here for the same recycled fluff.
They want fresh insights, real data, and a voice they can trust.
When you’re the one bringing fresh content to the table, Google will take notice—and so will your readers.
Plagiarism Problems – When AI “Borrows” Too Much
A Copyleaks study found a 76% spike in AI-generated content among students. Imagine a fast-food assembly line but for essays. It seems that at colleges, 32% of assignments were flagged for plagiarism, as were 28% of those at schools.
Big problem? You bet!
In March 2024, Google dropped a core update aimed right at low-quality AI content—and bam! A 45% cut in spam flooding their search engine. Still leaning on AI for your blog? Make sure you’re adding real value because Google’s not here for lazy copy-pasters or scaled content abuse – you know – that mass-produced AI junk cluttering up the internet.
Unleash your inner badass blogger, and watch Google shower you with rewards!
7 Ways To Beat the AI Content Apocalypse
In the Wild West of AI-generated content, originality is what sets savvy bloggers apart from the sloppy ones. Don’t just prattle on about being a truth-teller—dive in and unleash your inner fact-checking ninja.
Here’s how to write content that beats AI:
1. Verify Your Sources Like Your Blog Depends on It
Whenever you’re throwing out stats or bold claims, always back them up with credible sources. We’re talking peer-reviewed studies, .gov sites, or trusted industry experts. Citing “some guy on Twitter” isn’t going to fly.
2. Source Research Like You’re Crafting a PhD Thesis
Quick Google searches won’t cut it anymore. Dig into white papers, eBooks, and academic journals to offer insights AI simply can’t touch. Conduct your own research, surveys, or interviews to bring something fresh to the conversation. When your content can’t be found anywhere else, you’ve struck gold.
3. Use, But Don’t Abuse AI Tools
Tools like Grammarly’s plagiarism detector and Copyscape are your best friends but don’t rely solely on them. AI detection tools are great (there’s a lot more on them here), but remember: you’re still the human in charge here!
4. Bring Your Brand Game
AI lacks personality. Your voice—whether it’s sassy, professional, weird, or off-the-wall—is what sets you apart. Give your content some flair. Readers don’t just come for the info; they come for YOU, so give them what they love. AI can’t replicate your charm, so use it.
5. Hyper-Engage with Your Audience
AI-generated content isn’t jumping into the comments section to chat with readers—that’s your job. Write for humans, and engage with them to build loyalty and trust. Create a community that AI simply can’t match.
6. Focus on Evergreen Content That Ages Like Fine Wine
While a lot of AI content is on what’s “trending”, evergreen content is where the real magic happens. Write posts that stay relevant for years, like “How to Manage Your Finances” or “Top 10 SEO Tips That Never Fail.” Anyone (human or bot) can say a product is “amazing” or a service is “life-changing.” But only you can use stories, examples, and anecdotes to illustrate your points and bring your writing to life.
7. Play to Google’s Algorithm Changes (and Adapt Fast)
Google’s constantly tweaking its algorithms to weed out spammy AI content. Stay up-to-date on SEO trends and optimize for E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Google has explicitly stated it values original content from real human beings over AI rehashes. So stay human to stay relevant and optimize like your blog’s future depends on it (because it really does)!
Takeaways
Let’s clear the air: AI is here to stay, but it’s not stealing your thunder; you’re still the star of this show.
You could let AI make you lazy and underconfident.
Or, you could remind yourself of the power of the human touch, and keep your truth-telling torch alight and your facts untangled.
As long as people crave connection, emotion, authenticity, human experience, and trust, originality plus smart tech will continue to equal blog gold.
