Writing

Why I don't use AI to write my daily posts

Three reasons why AI don't work for me.

Paul Mah

Paul Mah

— 2 min read
Why I don't use AI to write my daily posts
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Bernard Hermant

Why don't you use AI to write your LinkedIn posts? Here's why I have problems using AI for this.

I recently wrote about why AI won't be writing feature posts soon. But what about LinkedIn posts?

To AI or not

After I posted my earlier piece, well-meaning friends approached me with tips. And I get it. Sometimes I wonder if I'm not trying hard enough.

In fact, a senior copywriter friend joked last week that she felt tired on my behalf when reading some of my posts. I found it hilarious, and we had a good laugh.

There are "experts" aplenty offering you to teach how to use AI to write LinkedIn posts. But that's not what I want.

Here are 3 reasons why AI don't work for me.

  1. Insights, not words

I'm not merely trying to fill up the page. I'm trying to cram insights, as clearly as I can, within a time-boxed period. Maybe I'll even get better at writing.

AI is great at many things:

  • Churn out a post from a few key ideas.
  • Flesh out an anecdote into an entire post.
  • Rewrite something in your style and voice.

But weave in nuance, pack details into every sentence, and edit it for high levels of readability? Nope.

  1. That extra sparkle

I try to add that extra sparkle you don't find elsewhere.

For instance, for TM-Nxera's data centre:

  • I found the launch date that's not in the release.
  • Highlighted new details, info not widely reported on.
  • A seperate MDEC quote about the limits of solar.

So if you do read, it's well worth your while.

  1. Writing is thinking

To me, writing is thinking. Why would I outsource my thinking?

By writing, I can:

  • Consolidate existing ideas.
  • Ask additional, relevant questions.
  • Make new connections and gain insights.

I'm not smart enough to create fresh ideas out of thin air in my head. So I write it down.

The right tool for the job

Make no mistake, I believe in using the right tool for the job. And I'm actively using AI every day. Just not for writing an entire LinkedIn post.

Your mile might vary, of course.

PS: Post typed out entirely by hand.

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