Writers and Authors
Also called: writer, author, copywriter, advertising copywriter, advertising writer
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Write advertising material for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing writers and authors work
8 of 16 main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Red (lots of AI use) — 50% when main tasks are weighted. This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Write advertising material for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Write to customers in their terms and on their level so that the script, story, or advertisement message is more readily received (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Revise written material to meet personal standards and to satisfy needs of clients, publishers, directors, or producers (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Present drafts and ideas to clients (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Plan project arrangements or outlines, and organize material accordingly (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Collaborate with other writers on specific projects (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Write fiction or nonfiction prose (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Edit or rewrite existing written material as necessary, and submit written material for approval by supervisor, editor, or publisher (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare works in appropriate format for publication, and send them to publishers or producers (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct research and interviews to determine which of a product's selling features should be promoted (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Work with staff to develop script, story, or advertising concepts (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Consult with sales, media and marketing representatives to obtain information on product or service and discuss style and length of advertising written material (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures and other promotional material — some recorded AI use
- Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information — some recorded AI use
- Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products — some recorded AI use
- Follow appropriate procedures to get copyrights for completed work — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Write advertising material for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services”. Try the prompt for: “Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material”.
- Weeks 3–4: Make it a habit. Use AI 3 times a week for 15 minutes. Always check facts, numbers and names yourself.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and writers and authors
Will AI replace writers and authors?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 8 of the 16 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Red rating (lots of AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 9 of the 20 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which writer tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: write advertising material for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services; write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material; invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures and other promotional material.
Which writer tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: write fiction or nonfiction prose; edit or rewrite existing written material as necessary, and submit written material for approval by supervisor, editor, or publisher; conduct research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, using sources such as newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 100% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a writer start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.