It seems like artificial intelligence (AI) might be winning the content creation game.
A recent study by MIT compared content created by humans with that generated by ChatGPT 4, and found that most respondents preferred the AI content.
The experiment
Researchers tasked both human experts and ChatGPT 4 with generating content for product descriptions and ad campaigns. The study involved variations where humans and AI worked independently, or collaborated to some extent. Surprisingly, the audience showed a preference for content infused with an AI touch, regardless of whether it was entirely AI-generated or underwent minimal AI editing.
Now, here’s the interesting part – telling people that the content was AI-generated didn’t change their preference. One key finding is that disclosing the AI origin of content did not diminish its appeal. The study suggests that, at least in this limited context, there is no inherent aversion or bias against AI-generated content. This has profound implications for marketers seeking to leverage AI in their campaigns.
We usually think of persuasion as a human thing. However, the MIT study suggests that AI, within specific constraints, can outperform humans in crafting persuasive content. The study also assigned both human experts and ChatGPT 4 with creating content to influence behaviour, and the AI consistently scored well, showcasing its ability to deliver results comparable to or even better than those of professional human writers.
Critics may argue that the tasks assigned in the study were relatively simple, involving writing concise, persuasive content of fewer than 100 words. While it’s true that creating comprehensive ad campaigns with intricate concepts and visuals remains a challenge for AI, the study’s implications are significant for mundane marketing writing tasks.
What does this mean for marketers?
The real takeaway for marketers is not that AI-created content will entirely replace human creativity, but that AI can serve as a powerful tool in certain contexts. Tasks like creating product descriptions, writing newsletters, and generating topical articles – often considered mundane – can be handled efficiently by AI, allowing human writers to focus on more complex and creative aspects of content creation.
It’s crucial to recognise that human involvement is still essential in the AI-driven content creation process. AI must be prompted effectively, and human writers can play a pivotal role in refining and enhancing the output. The current limitations of AI, such as hallucinations and conceptual misunderstandings, underscore the need for human oversight.
In conclusion, the integration of AI in content creation doesn’t signal the end of human involvement but rather a shift in dynamics. AI can act as a force multiplier, enabling marketers to produce more content efficiently. As AI continues to advance, human writers who embrace and effectively leverage these technologies are likely to find themselves at the forefront of creating compelling and impactful content in the ever-evolving digital landscape.