Article in partnership with Day Translations.

Whether we like it or not, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is here to stay and sometimes it is literally rammed down our throats, particularly for freelance writers.

Not only are freelance writers being faced with the threat of losing work projects to AI because (in theory) it can do the same job as humans cheaper and faster, but now there is a new, sneaky way AI is permeating the content writing industry. This new trend is the emergence of jobs requiring a hybrid human and machine model, where human writers, often freelancers, are tasked to check for the accuracy of information, perform a quality assessment and correct, edit and suggest improvements.

What Is Included in an AI Content Writer Job Specification?

The demand for AI content writers is increasing and, alongside it, the expectations from employers and clients commissioning writing work. The role of writers with a good knowledge of AI content production tools is to proofread, edit and quality control any content generated by AI.

A content writer with specific AI skills must be able to demonstrate to possess the following:

• excellent command of the English language (other languages are available, but for the sake of argument the focus is on English language jobs)
• great attention to detail
• excellent editing and proofreading
• ability to generate AI content using the right tools and prompts
• ability to create content in a variety of topics
• ensure AI-created content passes plagiarism scans
• adaptability to different writing styles
• ability to produce high volumes of content
• project management and time management
• ability to cope in a highly pressurised environment
• knowledge of SEO best practice
• good communication including keeping team members informed with progress reports
• testing new technologies and their features

Many job listings for Ai content writers advertise the ability to work remotely.

Harvard University is one of many high-profile institutions that are investigating the uses of AI in journalism and that are evaluating how AI can be used strategically for news distribution, content recommendations and tasks automation. A 2023 job advert for a Generative AI Staff Writer mentioned that Harvard University is actively studying how AI is interfacing with the jobs of journalists and what safeguards must be put in place to tackle AI’s inherent biases such as those relating to race, gender and ableism, and also combat misinformation and inaccuracies. In this particular advert the ideal candidate would be a tech journalist who can write in-depth and informative articles that challenges the reader to encourage critical thinking.

Banks and other finance institutions are evaluating various applications of AI content writing mixed with manually-created content by humans. Writers being recruited for positions requiring knowledge of AI tools can command higher salaries.

What Are the Salary Expectations for AI Content Writers?

Different sources quote varying degrees of earning brackets, with positions being advertised at times with a salary per hour and other times with an annual salary.

On average the hourly rate for AI content writers is $25.

Annual salaries can range from about $35,000 to about $55,000. For jobs in banking and credit, AI content writers can expect salaries of up to $100,000 a year, but the higher salary is attached to very exacting standards including having a solid understanding of legal issues to ensure that the produced content is compliant with existing legislation.

What about Multilanguage AI Content Tools?

Multilanguage AI content tools have “entered the chat”: generative AI writing assistants are becoming more available to support the work of marketing professionals to generate content quickly for international audiences. Some of these tools already support multiple European and Asian languages. Like most AI-generated content, human input is necessary to edit and improve the quality of the text. Most importantly, manual input is essential to fact-check and correct any wrong information.

If we compare AI-generated content and AI-generated translations to baking a cake, generative AI is like using machinery like a KitchenAid and an oven, but the sourcing of ingredients, recipe testing, food safety and creating the perfect flavour profile remain in very human hands. Yes, AI can churn out a recipe in seconds if you give it a list of ingredients, but if the end result is inedible, what is the point of it?