What does this say? AI Is Just Your Sidekick, Not the Star
If you’ve been scrolling LinkedIn lately, you might’ve caught that OpenAI job post for a Content Strategist.
They’re looking for someone with 6–10 years of experience to handle voice, tone, SEO, and essentially make ChatGPT.com’s content stand out.
Salary up to $393K 🤯. That’s 3x of what developers are paid in the US.
(in U.S. dollars)
The company that’s got everyone thinking AI can crank out killer copy is out here hiring a human to steer the ship. It’s funny, right? But it’s also a wake-up call.
I’ve been writing for years. Ghostwriting, building my own stuff on Medium, and I’ve seen tech waves come and go.
Remember when the internet exploded? Suddenly, you could find info on anything in seconds.
No more library trips or encyclopedia hunts.
But here’s the thing: what you found wasn’t always spot-on.
Half the time, it was outdated, biased, or flat-out wrong.
You had to dig, cross-check, and piece it together yourself. The internet sped up the search, but it didn’t replace the thinking.
AI’s the same deal with creation. Tools like ChatGPT let you spit out drafts, outlines, or even full pieces crazy fast. Type a prompt, hit enter, and boom, words on the page.
But accuracy? Context? That real-life flavor that makes writing stick? Nope. AI pulls from patterns in data, not from actually living the thing.
If you’re writing about fixing a leaky faucet, AI might list steps, but it hasn’t felt the frustration of a stripped screw or the satisfaction of a job done right.
It hasn’t tasted bad coffee while brainstorming at 2 AM. That’s where we come in.
AI is your assistant handy for grunt work, but you’re the one calling shots.
This OpenAI gig proves it. They’re not letting AI run wild; they need a human to shape it, test it, and ensure it drives real results, such as traffic and user love.
If the kings of AI are betting on humans for strategy, why are we panicking? It’s not about AI taking over, it’s about us getting smarter with it.
Look, I’ve been using AI in my workflow since it became available. It helps me brainstorm more efficiently or refine phrasing when I’m stuck. But I never let it own the final product.
That’s how you level up without selling out. If you’re a writer, especially if you’re just starting out and feeling that AI dread, take a chill pill.
Treat it like a tool, not a threat.
Below, I’ll outline a 5-step framework to integrate AI into your daily routine. It’s stuff I’ve done myself.
No hype, just what works in practice to write better, crank out more, and yeah, pull in extra cash without your stuff feeling robotic.
Step 1: Use AI for Brain Dumps, But Edit Like It’s Your Kid’s Homework
First off, when you’re staring at a blank page, don’t sweat the starting line. Pull up an AI tool, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Grok, whatever’s free and quick, and dump your raw thoughts as a prompt.
Say you’re writing about morning routines.
Prompt: “Give me a rough outline on building a solid morning routine based on these points: coffee first, no phone for 30 mins, quick walk.”
It’ll spit back a structure in seconds.
In practice, this means you skip the “what do I say next” stall.
But here’s the key: treat that output like a kid’s first draft homework. Read it line by line, cross out the bland parts, and rewrite in your voice.
Add stories from your life, like how skipping that walk once wrecked your day. Check the facts too; AI can sometimes mix up details. I do this for every post: AI provides the skeleton, and I add the meat.
Why bother? It speeds you up without losing soul. Beginners waste hours outlining; this cuts it to minutes. For money, it lets you take on more gigs.
If a client requests a blog post, use AI to generate ideas, then refine and customize them. You’ll finish faster, charge the same, and pocket more per hour.
Just remember, if it sounds generic, scrap it.
Your readers spot fakes. I’ve turned down AI-heavy projects because they felt off; sticking to this approach keeps quality high and clients coming back. Over time, you’ll train your eye to spot AI fluff, making your edits sharper.
Aim for 60%-70% your words in the end. That’s how you build trust and repeat work.
Step 2: Let AI Handle Research Chores, Then Connect the Dots Yourself
Research can drag on forever, especially if you’re new and don’t know where to look. Use AI to compile concise summaries from its existing knowledge. For a piece on remote work tools
Prompt: “List 5 popular remote tools with pros and cons, based on common user feedback.”
It’ll give you a starting list. Slack for chat, Trello for tasks, etc.
Practically, this means copying the information into your document as notes, rather than copying and pasting it into your writing.
Now, go verify. Read G2 reviews on Reddit or forums.
AI might say Zoom is great for everything, but you know from using it that audio glitches suck in big meetings. Weave in those real bits. I always add my thoughts, such as how I ditched one tool because it crashed during a pitch.
This step saves time on the hunt, letting you focus on insights. For beginners, it builds confidence; you learn what’s out there without having to scroll endlessly.
From a financial perspective, it means handling complex topics efficiently.
If you’re freelancing on Upwork, bidding on jobs that require research with AI gets you 80% of the way there quickly; your tweaks make it professional. Clients pay for depth, not speed, so you deliver both.
But common sense: AI’s knowledge cuts off at some point, so double-check dates or news. I’ve caught errors such as outdated statistics, hallucinations, and factually incorrect statements. Fixing them keeps your rep solid.
End goal? Your piece feels lived-in, not regurgitated. Do this, and you’ll stand out in a sea of shallow content.
Step 3: Test AI for Variations, Pick the Best, and Twist It Personally
When you’re drafting, AI’s good for spinning options. Write a paragraph yourself, then prompt AI:
“Give me 3 ways to rephrase this paragraph on why habits matter, keeping it under 100 words each. Grill this draft to make it better.”
You’ll get tweaks. Maybe one punchier, one more story-like.
In real life, this involves comparing them side by side in your document. Select the strongest elements, combine them with your original, and add a personal touch.
For habits, add: “I tried this after bombing a deadline. Changed everything.” Why? AI variations help break ruts, but they lack your edge.
For new writers, this fights perfectionism; you see multiple paths without overthinking.
It boosts your output, turning one idea into versions for blog, email, and social media.
Money angle: Repurpose smart. Write a core post, use AI to adapt for clients or your newsletter.
Charge per platform without starting from scratch. I do this for my blog posts. AI helps with variant copies for social media. Quality stays because you’re the filter.
Ditch anything that’s bland.
Sense check: If it doesn’t sound like you, redo.
Over weeks, you’ll get better at prompts, making AI your silent partner.
This way, you produce more without burning out, and your unique voice shines, drawing loyal readers who are willing to pay for subscriptions or books.
Step 4: Use AI to Spot Weak Spots, Fix Them With Your Gut
After a draft, run it through AI for feedback.
Prompt: “Read this draft on productivity hacks. Point out repetitive parts, unclear spots, and suggest fixes without rewriting.”
It’ll flag stuff like “this sentence rambles” or “add examples here.”
Practically, note those in margins, then fix yourself. Don’t let AI rewrite. Use your judgment.
If it indicates that a section is weak, think about why. Perhaps it would be more effective with a real-life example from your week, such as a hack that failed hilariously.
I always read aloud after; AI misses flow issues. My favourite way to edit mercilessly. Kill your darlings, they say.
Beginners benefit because it teaches self-editing without the need for a professional mentor. You learn patterns, like overusing “basically.” For earnings, polished work lands better gigs.
Clients notice clean copy; it leads to upsells, such as a series of products. I’ve used this to refine emails that convert subscribers to paid AI spots, and I tone them down to a more human approach.
But verify: AI feedback can be off-base, like suggesting cuts that kill your hook. Trust your gut; it’s your piece.
This step maintains top-notch quality while streamlining the revision process. Do it consistently, and you’ll cut editing time in half, freeing hours for more paid work. It’s like having a free beta reader who doesn’t complain.
Step 5: Track AI’s Role in Your Process, Adjust to Keep It in Check
Finally, log how you use AI each session.
After writing, note: “Used for outline, saved 20 mins. Edited 80% myself.” Use a simple note app or sheet.
In practice, review weekly: Where did AI help most? Where did it lead to fixes? Tweak, maybe limit to research if drafts feel stiff. This keeps AI as an assistant, not a crutch.
For starters, it builds awareness; you see you’re still the driver. Money comes from efficiency. Spot patterns like AI speeding research, so take research-heavy jobs.
I track to ensure my voice dominates, which leads to better rates, as clients value originality.
Common Sense: If logs show over-reliance, pull back; rewrite fully sometimes. To keep your brain feeling alive.
This maintains quality in the long term, preventing burnout and producing original output.
Over time, you’ll refine a workflow that scales output without sacrificing quality. Readers stick because it’s you, not a machine. That’s how you turn writing into a steady income.