How AI will affect white paper writers
Here’s a question on every white paper writer’s mind: How will AI affect me?
3.5 minute read
Will clients still need human writers?
Or is the whole white paper business about to go bust?
I just came across an intriguing new source for answers.
The JobsGPT chatbot estimates how much any job will be changed to AI.
This GPT runs free from OpenAI. It was created by Paul Roetzer‘s new research company called SmartX.ai.
Paul is one of us
Paul Roetzer, founder of
Marketing AI Institute
As you may know, I find Paul one of the most well-informed and thoughtful voices in the world of AI.
He’s one of us: He trained as a journalist, ran an ad agency for years, and then spotted AI on the horizon long before other marketing people.
Paul’s company Marketing AI Institute is an excellent source on the evolving world of AI, with a podcast, newsletter, courses, and events for writers and marketers.
So this GPT is coming from a trusted source, not some fly-by-night outfit.
Using JobsGPT is simple
You just type in a job title. The AI breaks down that job into various tasks and then estimates how much each task is affected by AIs already on the market.
Naturally, I tried “white paper writer” and here’s what it told me.
| Task in a White Paper | Estimated Time Saved with AI |
|---|---|
| Planning and outlining | 30% |
| Researching industry trends and data | 40% |
| Writing and rewriting drafts | 50% |
| Incorporating comments from reviewers | 25% |
| Copyediting for grammar and style | 60% |
| Collaborating with a designer | 20% |
| Finalizing the white paper | 30% |
I think those tasks and how AI can save time are self-explanatory by now.
For example, for writing the white paper:
The AI can generate content drafts, rewrite sections for clarity, and ensure the tone matches B2B expectations, significantly speeding up the writing process.
And for copyediting:
The AI can perform thorough grammar checks, suggest style improvements, and ensure consistency throughout the document, reducing the time spent on manual copyediting.
The least likely time savings are for tasks that involve dealing with fellow humans: incorporating reviewer comments and working with a designer.
That makes sense.
The AI can’t play much of a role in the interactions with teammates that are critical to getting a good final result.
Those time savings add up
I pressed the AI to total up all those time savings.
It showed me its calculations and then this conclusion:
I would estimate the overall time savings for the end-to-end white paper process to be in the range of 35–45%.
And you know, I think that’s bang-on!
On the first white paper I ever wrote using ChatGPT 3.5 in February 2023, I saved one-third of the time.
Despite me just learning to prompt, and having to re-research all the sources it made up.
Using today’s AI with good prompting, a writer can do even better.
I believe a writer can save close to half the time it used to take to do a white paper.
This is why I talk so much about AI
Today’s AI is a game-changing new tool that can radically accelerate our productivity… if we understand what makes a good white paper in the first place.
As Paul Roetzer says, AI is not going to replace writers. But writers who use AI are going to replace writers who don’t.
And this certainly applies to the white paper field.
How can any of us compete with someone who can finish a project in half the time? And thus charge half as much?
Look at this from a client’s point of view
Suppose a client gets two proposals for a white paper:
- Writer X can do the paper for $5,000 in six weeks without AI.
- Writer Y can do the paper for $3,000 in three weeks with AI.
Which one would the client hire?
Perhaps in some specialized field, Writer X’s industry expertise is irreplaceable and worth the premium and the extra time.
Are you sure all your clients see you that way? What about their bosses?
If you needed a subcontractor, which writer would you pick?
What writers can do
If you’ve never tried AI, try it! Give the free version of ChatGPT a whirl.
If you’re like most writers dabbling with AI, use it more often.
Every time you start a new task, ask yourself, “How could AI help me do this?”
If you’re not sure, ask the AI itself how it could help.
If you have a document started or drafted, check it with AI.
Ask it to proofread. Ask what you’re missing. Ask how your ideal reader will likely react. Ask how you can improve your draft.
It takes practice to learn the strengths and weaknesses of these new tools. So get some more practice!
That way, you’ll get to know when and how to use AI.
And you can be the Writer Y that most clients choose.
For more helpful articles like this, get my free newsletter.
