With artificial intelligence (AI)-driven online writing tools and content generators increasingly used for digital marketing, professionals aren’t sure whether they should embrace or despise the robots threatening their livelihoods. AI writing assistants are incredibly useful at fast-tracking content creation, reducing errors, and polishing up writing. But the truth is, they’ll never be able to deliver the complex and passionate storytelling humans are capable of. Still, AI is here to stay, and online writing tools will continue to develop. Instead of being wary of these digital writing assistants, use them to your advantage. They can help with redundant tasks such as applying house editorial style and suggesting preferred terminology. They also reduce grammatical and spelling errors, fill in the gaps when you’re stuck, and suggest categories to optimize your subject matter. With so many content generators emerging, it can be hard to know which ones are worth the hype. We’ve sifted through many platforms and explored the best online writing tools in 2023. When used correctly, they’ll help you speed up turnaround time without compromising quality.  

The History of AI Content Generation

AI-generated content has existed since the 1960s when natural language generation (NLG) was developed. However, progress was slow and inconsistent. In 1971, the first spell-check tool was Open Sourced. A decade later, the first grammar checker, Grammatik, hit the market. Over time, AI-generated content became more sophisticated, with marketers using AI algorithms to check and develop written content from scratch. The decade from 2010 to 2020 was significant in advancing online writing tools. Progress in natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, and neural networks have built the next generation of AI-based paid and free writing assistants. For instance, large language learning models (LLMs) can now generate text that sounds authentically human. Developers integrated these models to develop virtual assistants and chatbots, which are now standard on many websites. With continuously improving and more widespread AI-generated content, the technology has stretched across a wide range of creative fields. You can use AI to generate almost any written content, from long-form articles to Instagram captions. Today, technology can even help create videos, music, and art.  

The Downside of AI Content Generators

AI-powered online writing tools are incredibly effective, but only when paired with human intellect. AI tools certainly have a leg up when it comes to the speed at which they work and their relentless and untiring capacity to keep generating content. However, spelling and grammar suggestions aren’t always contextually correct, just as the information or facts provided aren’t always accurate. Inferior content generators and online writing tools can do a great deal of damage to your work and your brand image. Here are some challenges to be aware of when using second-rate AI-powered online writing tools:

• Poor quality recommendations and output. This can include incorrect spelling and grammar suggestions, incorrect facts and subject matter, irrelevant information, and inappropriate content.
• Since AI tools cannot fully understand human emotions, they can’t effectively create copy that resonates with audiences on a deeper level. This can lead to generic and less impactful content.
• As AI tools take over the content creation process to an extent, they can hinder creativity and collaboration.
• Long-form AI-generated content can often feel monotonous and repetitive with little progression.
• The tools must be constantly updated or “trained” to remain relevant. Plus, not all AI tools are up to date, which means they can’t write about events before or after a specific date.