Chapter 1: Understanding AI’s Role in Business

Artificial intelligence serves as a powerful tool, but it cannot replicate human understanding and empathy.

Recently, I encountered two significant issues with AI that I want to share to help you avoid similar pitfalls that might jeopardize your connections with potential clients. My intention is not to dissuade you from using AI—there are scenarios where it can be beneficial. Rather, I aim to encourage thoughtful consideration of how to integrate AI into your business effectively.

One notable incident occurred during a text exchange with the owner of a fitness center. I was contemplating my membership termination due to their offerings not accommodating my needs as a person with a disability. The facility owner responded with a message generated by ChatGPT, including the original input he used. Unfortunately, the AI-generated reply failed to address my specific concerns, leaving me feeling disregarded. The added inclusion of the original query felt impersonal and frankly offensive. Consequently, our conversation was cut short, and I decided to end my membership.

Now, let’s delve into a more troubling AI-related incident.

In my ghostwriting mastermind group, we've been discussing the implications of AI on our profession. Recently, a client requested that I edit a lengthy document of approximately 15,000 words. Upon examining it, my AI and plagiarism detection tools were activated, revealing a concerning amount of the text flagged as AI-generated, with a significant portion also identified as plagiarized.

Could I have proceeded with editing it and received payment for a simple copy edit? Certainly. However, I chose not to do so.

Why? It comes down to a pivotal clause in my contracts that aligns with my values as a writer:

"Intellectual Property. All rights to the work, including copyrights, sales, or distribution rights, shall immediately vest in the Author. The Ghostwriter will execute any documents necessary to ensure the Author owns the Work and all associated rights, including intellectual property and sales or distribution rights."

If a document is produced using AI, I cannot ensure that my client has ownership of the intellectual property rights. Failing to guarantee this would compromise both my contractual obligations and my ethical standards.

Currently, U.S. lawmakers are grappling with the complexities of AI and copyright laws. Until clarity is achieved, my agency will remain cautious.

I communicated my concerns to my client and proposed rewriting the document instead of merely editing it.

Does this imply that I oppose AI writing tools? Absolutely not. AI text generators can be incredibly useful in specific contexts, assisting both writers and non-writers in brainstorming ideas. For instance, requesting a five-day gluten and dairy-free meal plan from an AI service can yield great results.

In my agency, we leverage AI for tasks such as generating outlines and identifying SEO keywords. However, we refrain from relying on it to craft complete sentences intended for professional use.

Whether you operate a B2B or B2C model, your success hinges on your ability to forge connections and address problems. Genuine connections require human interaction, something AI cannot replicate.

This video, "Why Most Businesses Fail: Are You Leveraging AI to Stay Ahead?" explores the importance of effectively utilizing AI in business to avoid common failures.

In this video, "Why Most Businesses Fail: Are You Leveraging AI to Stay Ahead?" the discussion continues on strategies for integrating AI without losing the human touch.

Chapter 2: The Importance of Human Connection

Maria Chapman is the CEO of Connected Ghostwriting, LLC. She believes that words serve as a bridge to connect with ourselves, others, and our environment. As a chronic illness advocate and parent of five, Maria enjoys reading in the sun and walking her rescue pup when she's not managing her talented team of writers and editors.