AI Content: The End of the Creator Economy?

Yesterday, I was reading the Goldman Sachs report on the impact of generative AI on our global workforce and was entirely surprised by the vastness of the findings.

Goldman Sachs research suggests that generative AI systems, like ChatGPT, could automate 25% of work in the US and Eurozone, potentially raising global GDP by 7% over a decade. However, this would also disrupt the labor market, putting around 300 million full-time workers at risk of redundancy. About two-thirds of US and European jobs are exposed to some degree of AI automation, with lawyers and administrative staff most vulnerable.

Although most workers would see less than half their workload automated, 7% of US workers face potential replacement due to over 50% task automation. This raises concerns about productivity growth and creating a new class of dispossessed white-collar workers.

Manuel Doc is a front-end developer at user experience agency Illustrate Digital. "I was so amazed by ChatGPT's code-level responses that I was scared my job would be in jeopardy soon," he says.

"However, during my 1-2-1 with our head developer, he helped me understand that I'm not just hired to write code, but to analyse problems and provide solutions that ChatGPT can't give. It was very reassuring."

– BBC

WTF? AI Content Creators

As the Goldman Sachs report points out, Generative AI has rapidly permeated various industries, resulting in improved efficiency and streamlined processes. However, in the realm of content creation, its impact may not be as positive. The creator economy, once brimming with creative minds, now faces a potential downfall as AI-generated content threatens to diminish the value of human creativity.

I agree with Punk6529 (excuse me for referencing him for the second time this week; I promise my Twitter feed is more diverse than his tweets) on this. The proliferation of AI content generation tools has led to an oversaturation of the digital landscape. As algorithms become increasingly adept at producing content, the uniqueness of human-generated material loses its charm. Authenticity, once the cornerstone of the creator economy, now stands in jeopardy.

Moreover, AI-generated content often lacks the emotional depth and nuanced understanding that human creators bring to the table. While algorithms can effortlessly churn out articles, they fall short in capturing the spirit and essence of stories that resonate with audiences. The loss of human touch may ultimately result in a disengaged readership.

This "disengaged readership" conundrum is the same concept that has me questioning the purpose of written content in the next few years. I believe that the human perspective will never cease to exist. But the fact that an AI can write, summarize, and appeal to my emotional state today is appalling since it was a role that was once held in high regard by authors and copywriters.

That leads me to question the value and role of content. In tomorrow's era, I believe that creative content will have value because of its provenance and possibly ownership elements tied to it. The first versions of that provenance could be enabled by the blockchain, but I'm not sure it will.

I'm still determining how I might pivot as a creator in this new age. On one hand, I feel YouTube is currently the safe haven for content creators thanks to its reliance on serving the viewer value through quality content and creator connections. On the other hand, I feel leaning into an entirely new creative stack centered around identity might not be a bad idea.

While AI has undoubtedly revolutionized various industries, its impact on the creator economy, in the long run, maybe more detrimental than beneficial. The influx of AI-generated content runs the risk of devaluing human creativity and undermining authenticity. As we progress, it is crucial to strike a balance between embracing technological advancements and preserving the creative essence that fuels the creator economy.