Within the space of a week, notifications about new AI tools Google Bard and Adobe Firefly pinged into my inbox. As my role as Head of Creative encompasses both graphic design and copywriting, my curiosity was doubly piqued. I signed up for both, with a view to assessing them and sharing my thoughts in a blog. Then, getting a bit Meta (or going ‘Inception’ on the project, you might say), I thought…could I use an AI tool to write a blog about AI tools? >head explodes<
So, for a lark, I tried creating my blog using a tool called Rytr. This turned into an experience deserving of its own article. We’ll get to Bard and Firefly in Part Two. For now, Rytr…
Rytr for writing blogs
Like other copywriting AI tools I’ve used, including Jasper - I found that Rytr was effective in pulling together a neat framework of details and ideas. When Rytr had worked its AI magic, there was a gratifying number of words on the screen, making sentences that contained accurate facts… and yet, there wasn’t as much actual information as I would've liked. While I couldn’t dispute any of the content, I didn’t feel that I could, in good conscience, publish it online either. Without a writer’s perspective, or any personal insights giving the article some character, it felt a little flat.
This was interesting; after all, I’d had the option of selecting the tone I wanted to use, from an impressive range of options including ‘earnest’, ‘humble’, ‘joyful’ and ‘worried’. I could add my keywords, to guide and mould the blog. Even the ‘Creativity Level’ option had six levels of customisation, from a stripped-back factual style through to florid creative prose. You’d imagine that this fine-tuning would result in a glorious ready-to-go blog. And yet…it made me think of a tin of soup. Bear with me here, it’s time to work my metaphor.
Technically, a tin of soup constitutes a meal. But serving cold soup would make a rather dreary lunch. The AI Rytr blog was my tin of soup, and it was my chosen flavour! But if I wanted something palatable that I could share with others, I’d still need to heat it up and serve it nicely. Maybe include a chunk of crusty bread on the side (if we can work that into the metaphor).
Warming up the AI
We’ve seen the functional yet slightly weird results of untouched AI copy on the internet. Usually under article headlines like ‘Five Tips To Make You A Millionaire’ (shudder). But for something that feels authentic, something that meshes with your brand and resonates with your audience, a final stage of fine-tuning is required.
I feel this is how things will progress with AI for the immediate future. AI tools give us a foundation, a head start, a strong jumping off point. But without some human finessing, they’ll fall short of the mark. There’s often talk about ‘AI stealing our jobs’ - I think the creative industries are safe for now! But creatives who learn to use AI to their advantage will be in a stronger future position than those who dismiss these tools.
After all, depending on what you want to generate, some results are already pretty good! To close, I’d like to share that - in the spirit of experimentation - I selected the ‘Song Lyrics’ option, with a Joyful tone and Optimal Creativity. My chosen topic was ‘I’m excited about AI’. Are you ready for this?
[Verse 1]
I'm gonna tell you something, it's time to get hype
Gonna put my trust in the Artificial Intelligence tonight
From robotics to datamining, this tech is extraordinary
AI's got me feeling like I've got a whole new family
[Chorus]
I love AI, yeah it's here to stay
It's the new frontier, and I'm here to play
I love AI, oh-oh-oh, I love AI
Gonna make sure that my future is bright, bright
Ain't nobody gonna stop me tonight
I love AI, yeah it's here to stay
It's the new frontier, and I'm here to play
[Verse 2]
We've got machines that can think and create
Beautiful algorithms taking shape
No task is too hard for our digital friends
AI's here to stay and it's never gonna end!
[Chorus]
I love AI, yeah it's here to stay
It's the new frontier, and I'm here to play
I love AI, oh-oh-oh, I love AI
Gonna make sure that my future is bright, bright
Ain't nobody gonna stop me tonight
I love AI, yeah it's here to stay
It's the new frontier, and I'm here to play
(Here to play, here to play)
For copywriting services that’ll make you want to sing, get in touch with Dena@youbeemedia.co.uk or Rebecca@youbeemedia.co.uk. No dodgy AI, just authentic copy that reflects your product/s and values, for optimal customer connection and conversions!
