If People Wanted AI Content, They Would Just Go To ChatGPT.
AI is a fantastic tool, there's no doubt about it.
I use it every single day & it makes my life easier in so many different ways.
But there are many wrong ways to use AI, and there's one that could be very damaging to your success.
You see, here's the deal...
If somebody wanted to read AI content, get an AI answer or get a step-by-step guide written by AI, they would simply head to ChatGPT.
And if a person is NOT at ChatGPT (or similar), then the chances are they're looking for something more than "just" AI content. Something with that human touch and opinion.
So, with that in mind, does copying content from ChatGPT & simply pasting it elsewhere work? Is it a viable strategy for getting traffic & genuine engagement?
The answer, put simply, is no.
And there's an easy way to see that that's the case. For example, there are several WA members who have begun using copy/paste AI content for their blog posts here inside of the community.
If you take a look back at their historic posts (that they actually rote themselves), they have fantastic engagement. Lots of likes, comments, and so on.
However, you can see that when they made the switch to using copy/paste AI content, the likes/comments began to drop significantly. In fact, many of their newer posts are now just ignored.
But this point isn't about pointing fingers at people inside of WA. I am just using that as an example.
This post is about highlighting the importance of leveraging AI but using it as a tool & always making sure that you take the time to go over your content & add your own human touch.
Don't let AI turn you lazy! Let it make you more productive. Let it help you produce better, more engaging & higher-converting content than ever before.
Once AI has drafted an article, always put yourself into the reader's shoes and make sure it satisfies their needs. If you came across it, would you really be interested in reading it?
And does the content look human, or does it look like it has been written by AI?
FYI, stats show that if people assume content has been written by AI, they'll bounce right off it rather than read it. So what exactly does AI content look like?
Well, 2 of the most telltale signs are:
- Use of EM dashes (—), a dash that's longer than a typical hypen
- Use of horizontal lines to separate sections
Those 2 things don't guarantee a piece of content has been written by AI, but they are markers that certainly raise suspicion and can be a contributing factor to people assuming your content is purely AI & bouncing right off the page without engaging.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on pure copy/paste AI content online?
Do you enjoy it when bloggers you have followed transition to publishing entirely AI content? Or would you prefer to go back to adding their own human touch?
Leave a comment below. P.S. I'll be looking out for EM dashes and horizontal separators!
Recent Comments
54
Spot on Dale! I used to love reading through authentic experiences from members here, but.... unfortunately most of the blogs now are AI generated!!
Just scan through the first paragraph or two and it's clear!
I am not against using AI in order to assist me, but some members just copy and paste and leave it at that!!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend buddy! :-)
We are definitely on the same wavelength, Nick!
Bravo to your good self and Dale!
All the best.
Roy
I know what you mean Dale.. I see a lot of it... I try to spend a few minutes each day to check out posts here on WA.. and after getting past the first line on some of them, the AI stands out a mile.. I just close them and carry on...
Another tell tell sign for me is the length... for some (like you say about going back to older posts) they are long long long pieces, something that was never even attempted by some before..
In my opinion, something those lengths (and often the chosen subject) would be better suited to a website, but thats just me!
Chris
I think a lot of it is, you have to know what question to ask. You see that in the community all the time. People are asking the wrong question.
The human touch doesn't matter if you don't even know what question to ask.
By the way, I just joined and how DO I make money right NOW?
(you have seen that a thousand times and you get my point?)
Michael
It doesn't help to use AI if you don't know how to use it. If you ask it vague or incorrect questions you'll get garbage back and no matter how much you humanize it, it will still look and sound terrible.
"Garbage in Garbage Out"
OK yep... so sorry.. now i am with you :)
Thanks for getting back to me... Yeah you are right... the tools that we have are only good if we know how to get the best out of them.
Quite True!
Chris
I don't think this is something WA teaches. Reason being I think they have tools that "hide" it like the content writer and hubs recommendations. And that's ok for starting out.
Good morning Dale,
Thank you so much for your blog post, it's the type of post I have been thinking about writing. However, it's good to hear it from someone like yourself who is very experienced in the Internet marketing game.
Like you, I am finding AI very helpful to carry out certain tasks, but when it comes to content, we have to make it our own. When AI first became available to the public, I was against it, however, with the help of the Wealthy Affiliate training, I was able to change my opinion and make use of AI.
I mentioned to Kyle the other day that I used to read quite a few of the top 10 blog posts on Wealthy Affiliate every morning. However, many of these posts are not worth reading as they are just AI content, despite what the authors think. As soon as I see AI content, which is normally within the first sentence, I'm gone! I used to really enjoy reading and commenting on members genuine experience on the platform.
The reason we write on Wealthy Affiliate is generally about our experience, these may be wins, difficulties or do something with struggling with, but it needs to be a genuine experience. AI cannot do this!
I have had a Google alert set up for years, my alert is "Wealthy Affiliate Review", these reviews are literally almost all AI reviews! These posts will never rank highly in Google, yet people still keep using AI for content, which long term will end in disappointment. Maybe someone has written 10 posts in an hour, but that's not the point!!!
If I'm looking to purchase something, I want genuine human information, not AI's answer!
Rant over!
Have a fantastic day. A great post.
Roy
I totally agree Roy. I was actually looking at some of the top 10 blogs myself & before even clicking, it was easy to see which ones were AI based on the likes/comments. I just hope the updated WA rewards them less, which will hopefully encourage people to get posting authentic content again.
Wishing you a great day as well, thank you :)
Great minds think alike, Dale!
Exactly, many of these AI posts stand out a mile, some of them are also exceptionally long and boring, when you know it's not based on personal experience but rather, AI generated.
I genuinely love to hear a success story on Wealthy Affiliate or anything real, whether it's good or bad, or perhaps of someone struggling, I can go in and comment and potentially encourage them to move forward.
Yes, I do believe this is the plan to reward these people less. Kyle also mentioned to me the other day that many of these posts do not get the comments or likes that a genuine handwritten post receives.
Another thing that amazes me is when I see, "Great post blah blah blah"! Really! You have just commented on a load of AI garbage!!
Once again I appreciate your post, Dale and I really hope it's something that is addressed on the platform. I appreciate that may be easier said than done.
All the best.
Roy
Great minds think alike, Nick! I think probably lots of people think the same way as we do.
I fully understand that AI can be a really useful helper, but there are times when we need to use our own brain and logic and create genuine posts that will help other members.
I used to really enjoy glancing at the top 10 blog posts and would probably comment on between three and six of them each day, but sadly that's not possible now, due to AI content. I also found it a very good way to start the day by hearing success stories and going in and commenting and helping others.
All the best.
Roy
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Hey Dale, great convo-starter here and I agree with the heart of your message. When people slap up pure AI content with zero soul, it shows. Readers aren’t stupid. They can sniff that out quicker than a raccoon finding a bag of trail mix.
That said, I think we’ve got to be careful not to lump all AI-assisted content into the same bucket. There’s a big difference between letting the tool think for you, and letting it help you think clearer.
I use ChatGPT almost daily, but not to write for me. I use it to bounce ideas around, clean up messy thoughts, and push me into corners I might not have explored otherwise. Every post I write — whether it’s for my RV site, nature blog, or here in WA — is driven by me. My voice, my perspective, my weird mix of coffee and chaos. AI just helps me steer the thing straighter. Like a GPS. Handy, but I’m still the one choosing the scenic route when the highway gets boring.
The key, like you said, is using it as a tool and not a crutch. I run every post through a gut-check. If it doesn’t sound like me, I either rewrite it or toss it.
But here’s the kicker. I’ve seen posts that sound human, get engagement, and still feel kind of... soulless. So maybe it’s less about how it was written, and more about why. If someone’s just chasing points or posting nonsense, readers pick up on that. Whether it came from AI or not.
Curious what you think. Is it really the AI that turns folks off, or is it the intent behind the content that folks are responding to?
Either way, appreciate the conversation. Not enough people are talking about this in a real-world way.
Your posts are some of the ones that I've actually begun skipping. The writing style seemed to change tremendously.
As an example; DiD I jUsT sEe ThAt? Writing Emails That Sell Without Being Spammy It's almost as if those 2 posts were written entirely by 2 different people. Even the comment you just published didn't feel like it was written in your typical tone.
Appreciate the honesty, and you’re right to call it out.
There has been a shift in my writing style, but it’s not because I’ve handed the reins over to AI. I do use ChatGPT to write, but I use it with specific instructions to reflect my tone, voice, and perspective. That’s a given in my workflow. The second post you mentioned... the one about email marketing, was 100% created through that method. It came from my own experience, with AI helping to refine it.
The first post, the Ambassador one, was just me off the cuff. That’s a style I still enjoy using when it fits the moment, and in that case, I didn’t feel the need for the tool at all.
I think what happens, especially over time, is that the more we work with AI, the more we start to adapt with it! Whether we mean to or not! We begin catching patterns, formatting cues, and even avoiding things like double dashes. That doesn't mean we're not writing our own thoughts. It just means we’re evolving how we communicate.
Even the comment you responded to above, that was all me. It may read polished or structured, but that’s just the result of how I think and communicate now after months of working closely with these tools. Beleive it or not, that's 6 months of straight up AI and laser-focus on websites! And just like anyone else, some days I write more casual and personal, and other days I’m more focused and structured depending on what I’m trying to say.
At the end of the day, the point of my content still comes from my brain :) Always shaped through my brand, my tone, and my experience.
And yeah, this comment? Still just me.
Hello Jeremy,
Thank you for being honest and real regarding your comments, I appreciate that.
I have seen a few headlines to your blog posts which actually interest me. But once I start reading, I can easily tell its AI content, at that point, I can't get away fast enough. If I look at your last three blog posts on Wealthy Affiliate, they have received minimal engagement, what does that suggest.
Have a look at some posts from members who have added genuine content and you will see the difference, especially when it comes to engagement.
If you're writing in the same style on your websites, how do you think that will look?
I'm not trying to run your content down, but content at Wealthy Affiliate should be about our genuine experience, not what AI thinks. This doesn't have to be a win, it could be something someone is struggling with, but it just needs to be based on genuine experience.
Wishing you all the best.
Roy
Hey Roy, appreciate your comment and the tone you approached it with.
I’ll say this... engagement inside WA doesn’t always reflect the full picture. I’ve learned to separate internal likes from external results. Some of my lowest-engaged posts here have led to breakthroughs elsewhere, and I’m okay with that.
I’ve been laser-focused on growing my sites and refining how I write. That means testing new formats, tones, and structures that may not hit the same for everyone... but I’m not here to follow the crowd. I’m here to build something that lasts.
All that said, I respect your perspective. WA has always been a place where experience matters! I’m doing my best to contribute through the lens of my own, whether it lands with high fives or silence.
Wishing you continued growth in your journey as well.
Good morning Jeremy,
Thank you, it's a good discussion to have.
I understand that Wealthy Affiliate is different from our own personal websites. As long as you are getting breakthroughs with your content, that's the main thing.
It's great that you have been focused and it's good to experiment on how we write and what works best, etc. It's very important to build our business rather than follow the crowd, I am very much for that!
One of the many things that I've always liked about Wealthy Affiliate, is the fact that we can communicate with like-minded people. A place where we can share our wins and struggles, it's also a place where we can encourage each other.
Wishing you all the best.
Roy
Thanks Roy.