Initial thoughts
The influence of your intentions
Understanding reader engagement
Leveraging original content to surpass AI
Laziness? Achieving greater impact with limited time!
Less human content? Prioritizing quality over quantity!
Wrapping up

Initial thoughts

“I believe AI is bad, prove me wrong. For over a month now, I have been thinking, what is the value of a post if AI has become this excellent and web scraping AI programs are copying content and shunning them out in large numbers, more people are becoming lazier, and some of us who put in hard work are getting lesser and lesser value.”

These words, shared by a fellow tech blogger publishing articles almost every day, encapsulate the growing concerns surrounding the impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) on the field of tech blogging.

While some may share this sentiment, we can approach this topic from a radically different perspective, shaped by our collective experience in the context of this revolution. As a time-limited tech blogger, I view AI not as a threat, but as a catalyst for innovation and growth. Allow me to elaborate on why I believe AI is not only beneficial, but essential for the evolution of tech blogging.

The influence of your intentions

if your goal is JUST a broad audience, create listicles on any Javascript subject 😅.

For those wanting to positively impact people with their articles on any other subject, several factors determine a wide readership, including:

Advertisement strategies on popular writing platforms, self-promotion efforts, paid plans, and reaction bots
Reader needs, whether actively searching for content on search engines (traditional or AI-powered)
Social sharing by enthusiastic readers
Accessibility considerations, such as readability, language clarity, and compatibility with assistive technologies

On the other side, for tech bloggers who primarily write for personal reasons, such as showcasing their skills to superiors or close peers, the reach is less important. These writers are less likely to be significantly affected by advancements in AI.

For the rest of this article, we will focus on tech blogging that aims to have a meaningful impact on fellow developers.

Understanding reader engagement

How can we make our tech content engaging?

Taking cues from Aristotle’s modes of persuasion, we understand that readers are influenced by logical reasoning (Logos), the credibility of sources (Ethos), and emotional connections (Pathos). A writer should address at least one of these elements.

For example, opinions gain significance when backed by logic (Logos) and presented by a credible writer (Ethos). Writers lacking established reputation may struggle to make a substantial impact, resonating primarily with less discerning readers. Establishing credibility (Ethos) is essential for broadening your audience. However, it is worth noting that emotional appeals (Pathos) can also be highly effective, as most individuals are responsive to them.

Understanding and effectively incorporating the principles of Logos, Ethos, and Pathos in your tech blogging can elevate your content, engage a wider audience, and establish your reputation as a knowledgeable and persuasive writer in the field.

Leveraging original content to surpass AI

AI has undoubtedly revolutionized content creation by synthesizing existing information in a matter of seconds with impeccable precision. Some argue that it is not, but it is a matter of months before it will be. Blogging posts saying that it is not perfect, like Is Blogging Dead After ChatGPT?, will not age well. Let’s consider a state where AI has been perfected to the point that content cannot be distinguished.

Where AI falls short is in providing genuine novelty and unique insights. While it excels at aggregating existing knowledge, it lacks the ability to generate truly original content. AI may soon become the best content synthesizer tool of all time.

We must then acknowledge that not all human content is created equal. Articles that simply regurgitate information or offer generic opinions are quickly becoming superseded by AI. Instead, it is the articles that bring fresh perspectives, personal anecdotes, or profound insights that stand the test of time.

Consider the following content that will not be contested by AI anytime soon:

Original Thought Leadership: Articles that dig into unexplored topics or offer groundbreaking insights are inherently valuable. By being the first to tackle a subject or presenting a unique perspective, writers can capture readers’ attention and establish themselves as thought leaders in their respective fields.

Credible Opinion Pieces: Readers place a premium on the opinions of credible individuals. As experienced tech bloggers, we have the opportunity to leverage our expertise and credibility to offer valuable insights and recommendations.

Emotionally Engaging Narratives: Stories have the power to evoke emotions and create lasting impressions. By infusing personal anecdotes or captivating narratives into our writing, we can forge deeper connections with our audience and leave a lasting impact.

In-depth Analysis: Articles that offer in-depth analysis or explore complex topics in detail are highly sought after. As experienced writers, we possess the knowledge and analytical skills to dissect complex subjects and provide valuable insights to our readers.

Laziness? Achieving greater impact with limited time!

Laziness is prompting ChatGPT and publishing the result as-is. But leveraging automation to handle repetitive and time-consuming tasks is a sensible approach. As tech bloggers, we are familiar with tasks that require repetition. It may include keyword research, generating topic ideas, formatting content, translation, optimizing SEO, banner prompt ideas, and even moderating comments.

Additionally, writing efficiently enables us to produce a greater number of articles within the constraints of our limited time. When coupled with high-quality content, this results in an increased volume of original material being shared with the global audience, making knowledge more accessible to all.

Less human content? Prioritizing quality over quantity!

When our blog posts revolve around rehashing existing material or, worse, generating content without a thorough understanding of the existing literature, we find ourselves competing with AI in its area of expertise. This is a futile endeavor, regardless of the level of effort exerted.

Seeking tech insights online often involves a tedious process of sifting through numerous articles containing subpar content. The focus here is on content created entirely by humans. It is not uncommon for us to lament, “Dear fellow writer, please thoroughly research and synthesize the latest knowledge before writing; you are squandering readers’ time 😢.” In the era of AI, we may encounter feedback suggesting, “ChatGPT could have produced superior content in mere seconds.” While this feedback may seem harsh, it contributes to collective improvement and encourages writers to invest their time efficiently.

Wrapping up

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not our adversary in tech blogging; rather, it serves as a valuable tool that complements our skills and enhances the quality of our work. By embracing AI technology and leveraging our unique strengths as human writers, we can continue to produce valuable content that resonates with our audience and fosters meaningful engagement.

If you think and act like a smart machine, you will be replaced by one.

— Christoph Burkhardt, AI Evangelist

The key is not to view AI as a threat to our roles but as a means to evolve alongside it, utilizing its capabilities to enhance our craft. Instead of fearing or competing with AI, we should embrace it to refine our skills.

Illustrations generated using Stable Cascade on HuggingFace.

Further reading

This article was enhanced with the assistance of an AI language model to ensure clarity and accuracy in the content, as English is not my native language.