AI can be pretty amazing. It can draft engaging product copy, news releases, reports and plans in mere seconds. As AI content creation tools become more common place, their convenience and efficiency can be hard to resist. While these types of platforms can improve productivity and make you look like a rock star, before you jump in, you may want to consider a couple of things.
Let’s imagine you have to prepare a news release for the launch of an innovative, new piece of tech, and that you decide to use a free online AI content creator to make quick work of it. You begin by entering the outline for your launch and just a hint of information about your tech. Within seconds you have an AI generated news release.
Taking a closer look at the release, on the surface it seems fairly well written, but as you drill down, you notice that it doesn’t pick up on specific context that is relevant to your situation and needs. AI can give you an eloquent general overview of a topic based on what it finds online, but you may need to add more details to offer a better understanding of your topic.
Now imagine that you decide to enter more specific details about the new tech to achieve a better result. Do you know who is on the other end of the software you’re using, and can you trust them with your proprietary details? Corporate espionage and the sale of trade secrets are unfortunately more commonplace with today’s technology, including AI. In a world where state sponsored hacks and cyberattacks are so common, the security of your data and proprietary business information has to be a consideration.
Furthermore, have you considered exactly who would legally own AI generated content? It’s not a secret regulatory and legal systems haven’t kept pace with advances in technology. Can you call an AI generated document “your work” or has it become part of the public domain? While the courts have yet to set precedent when it comes to AI generated content, a 2015 court case could shine a light on the matter.
The case Naruto vs Slater established that only humans can hold a copyright, not a monkey (like Naruto the crested black macaque who took a selfie with an unattended camara) or, by extension, a machine. Without any modification of AI generated content, the content you thought was yours could become part of the public domain and be used by competitors and others alike once publicly published. Adding a personal touch to the AI generated output could be a solution.
Decisions to use AI content creators could become increasingly common in the workplace. Approach this evolving technology with your eyes wide open.