Wondering if human writers are becoming a thing of the past? Whether it’s content marketing, ad campaigns or social media, copywriters are finding themselves threatened by chat tools and AI-generated content. While some companies may think they can replace humans with a free tool, at Trebletree, we know that humans still have a huge role in content marketing – from optimized content for search engines to blog posts and landing pages.
A Human Touch in an AI World
I’ve been writing content for over 20 years—long before AI content-writing tools or large language models were something to consider. Back then, writing was a purely human endeavor, filled with brainstorming, research, and late-night coffee-fueled editing sessions.
Now, AI has changed the landscape. With just a few clicks, AI writing tools can generate full-length articles in seconds, assist with SEO optimization, and refine messaging. But does that mean human writers are obsolete? Far from it. AI is a tool—an incredibly powerful one—but without human oversight, content risks becoming generic, impersonal, and lacking true originality.
It’s been a while since I originally shared my thoughts on AI Content Writing & SEO, so let’s talk about how to use AI for website content writing without losing the human touch.
Why We Still Need Humans Who Can Write
Writing isn’t just about stringing words together—it’s about perspective, creativity, and storytelling. Without human writers, our content would become stale and repetitive, lacking personality and depth.
AI can analyze data, predict trends, and optimize readability, but it doesn’t have our actual real-life experiences. It doesn’t have our opinions, humor, or quirks that make writing compelling. If we let AI take over completely, we risk erasing what makes great writing stand out—its uniqueness.
Human Writers Can’t Ignore AI
I’ll be honest—when AI content-writing tools first hit the scene, I wasn’t thrilled. Ok, if I’m being really honest, I was adamant that AI could not write anywhere close to a human. Just ask Lauren. As someone who’s spent decades honing my craft, the idea of handing over content creation to a machine felt…wrong. It still does in a lot of ways, but I’ve learned how to make peace with AI and use it to my advantage.
Ignoring AI isn’t an option. Clients expect efficiency, businesses need scalable content strategies, and AI can help us keep up with growing demands. Instead of resisting it, I’ve learned to embrace AI as a tool that enhances (rather than replaces) my work.
AI speeds up content creation, but it still requires human strategy, editing, and insight to be truly effective. While AI writing tools can technically write an article in a matter of seconds, I find that most of my AI-assisted writing takes at least an hour, if not more. The good news is that what takes me an hour or two to brainstorm, write, and polish used to take an entire day.
How to Use AI Writing Tools Without Losing Our Human Touch
Here’s my process for using AI in a way that complements, rather than replaces, my writing:
1. Start with a Human-Generated Outline
Before AI enters the picture, I write my own outlines. This allows me to structure content in a way that makes sense for my audience, rather than letting AI dictate the flow. I can also make sure that the content aligns with my SEO strategy or fits the format of website landing pages. If I’m really struggling to start an article, I might also use AI tools to brainstorm topics.
2. Use AI to Generate a Draft
Once my outline is solid, I feed it into ChatGPT or another AI tool to produce a first draft. This speeds up the writing process, but I never treat it as the final version. Along with my outline, I also give my AI writing assistant information about my voice (or the client’s brand voice), the purpose of the article and any specific SEO goals for the piece. The more direction I can provide, the better the first draft is.
3. Refine Each Section with AI Assistance
I take AI writing and refine it section by section. This is where the back-and-forth happens—adjusting tone, rewording awkward phrases, and ensuring the content reflects my voice (or my client’s brand). At this time, I might also use other AI tools like Surfer SEO to optimize content.
4. Edit, Edit, Edit
At Trebletree, we never post AI-generated content or share AI content with our clients without reviewing it with our human brains. I read through everything, making final edits to ensure authenticity. If a section sounds robotic, I rework it. If something feels off, I tweak the language until it feels natural. Need a human writer and AI wrangler on your team? Check out Trebletree’s Content Writing Services.
Choosing the Right AI Writing Tools
While I primarily use ChatGPT, I occasionally turn to other tools like Perplexity, Claude, and Gemini. Each AI writing software has its strengths, and it’s important to experiment and reevaluate your toolset as technology evolves. Sometimes, the best answer is to use multiple platforms on a single project.
Why do I keep coming back to ChatGPT? Because I’ve spent time training it on my voice and preferences. Over time, it has learned how I write, making the editing process faster and more seamless. But for specific topics, I’ll test other AI content-writing tools to see what works best.
Best Uses for AI Content Writing
AI writing tools are particularly useful for certain types of content—especially when used as a content refinement tool rather than an end-to-end writer.
- Website Content Optimization – AI can help refine website copy, making it more engaging and structured for readability. This is especially useful for landing pages linked to your marketing campaigns. AI can generate different versions for testing and help you develop engaging content that converts.
- Blog Posts – AI can help generate drafts, but it’s important to start with original ideas and personal insights to ensure the final post sounds human. We are so overwhelmed with content that if you’re just using and AI content generator to post frequently and not sharing your own perspectives, you’re missing the point.
- Social Media Posts – AI is great for testing different messaging styles, but be cautious of generic language and excessive emojis. Authenticity matters. AI is also helpful in taking a post and customizing content for different networks. A Facebook post has a different audience than a LinkedIn post and AI writing tools can help you take your post and format it for each network. If building your social media presence is important, AI writing tools can help make your more efficient.
- Tedious, Repetitive Content – AI is great for bulk writing tasks like product descriptions, meta descriptions, and category page content—where consistency matters but creativity is minimal. After some time coaching your AI model, it can create product descriptions faster than your human fingers could type. But, when it comes to your products, you want to be sure that information is accurate so don’t forget to review them before posting.
- Proposals & Business Documents – AI can speed up the writing process for structured content, helping ensure clarity and conciseness. When it comes to proposals and business communications, I find AI extremely helpful. Instead of avoiding these more tedious writing jobs, I can knock them out quickly and move on to more fun creative writing.
- Virtual Brainstorming Buddy – Staring at a blank page? AI can help break through writer’s block by offering ideas, outlines, and alternative ways to approach a topic, making it easier to get started. I prefer to bounce ideas off a human buddy, but an AI article writer is still better than going at it completely alone when writer’s block hits.
AI Writing Tools Work Best When Supervised by Experienced Writers
AI content-writing tools are incredibly powerful, but they still require human oversight. The real risk isn’t that AI content generators will replace writers—it’s that future generations might rely on AI so heavily that they never develop their own writing skills. I, for one, am thankful that I had the opportunity to learn to write without the temptation of a tool to do it for me.
Great writing starts with great thinking. AI can assist with content generation, but it’s up to human writers to provide originality, strategy, and personality. If we don’t nurture our ability to think critically and structure ideas, we risk becoming too dependent on AI-generated content.
The best approach? Treat AI as an assistant, not a replacement. Use it to enhance your writing process, but always ensure the final product reflects your unique voice.
This Writer’s Thoughts
AI for content writing is here to stay, and as writers, we need to adapt. But that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice creativity or authenticity. By using AI tools strategically and keeping humans at the center of the process, we can create content that is both efficient and engaging.
So, fellow human writers—embrace AI, but don’t lose yourself in it. Your voice, your ideas, and your perspective still matter.
