ChatGPT vs. Human Writers: Who Ranks Better on Google

We’ve Been Warned ❗

From an employer’s viewpoint, human writers can pose many challenges. Experienced writers struggle with taking feedback well, and they don’t write as quickly as AI does. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is cost-effective, doesn’t complain, and produces fast and convincing copy.

So, is ChatGPT better than human writing?

Let’s find out.

SEO Insiders’ Perspective on ChatGPT

I just attended the first SEO Conference in Manila last month, and some speakers, especially SEO content writing expert Kevin Meng, agree with these sentiments. Many times, human writers, especially skilled writers, can be a bit stubborn when it comes to making changes and sticking to deadlines. 😉 Another speaker was Matt Diggity, CEO and founder of Matt Diggity Marketing, who also warned us about the evolution of AI.

Matt also points out that it’s not just writers who can lose their jobs when we don’t adapt; even doctors and lawyers might find their roles evolving to better serve patients and clients by utilizing AI.

I wasn’t the least bit worried when ChatGPT was introduced last year. I was excited to see how I could harness this incredible tool to amplify my writing skills. It’s probably because I understand our audience comprises people, not machines, and human touch, connection, and empathy genuinely matter in our interactions. It’s what makes our content stand out.

ChatGPT’s Language Capabilities

AI in content creation is a game-changer. It’s more helpful than human writers and way faster when prompted correctly. Picture AI like ChatGPT as your creative web bot ally, improving copy, position ideas in a structure way and excellent in providing SEO headers.

AI’s language can understand, interpret, and generate human vocabulary with remarkable fluency – when, again, prompted correctly.

These capabilities are powered by Natural Language Processing (NLP), allowing AI to produce human content with your specific instructions on how you would want it to say.

ChatGPT’s Advantages Over Human Writers

Regarding producing content, ChatGPT holds several critical advantages over human writers that make it an appealing option for content creation. Below are the following:

Rapid Content Creation: AI-powered writing tools can generate content at remarkable speeds, enabling the efficient production of large volumes of text. This capability allows for swift content creation across various topics and formats.

Consistent Performance: Advanced language models maintain a steady output rate, providing reliable content generation without fluctuations in productivity. This consistency can be particularly valuable for projects with tight deadlines or high-volume requirements.

Data-Driven Approach: AI writing assistants generate content using vast information databases, drawing from various sources to create informed and comprehensive text. This approach can lead to well-researched output on diverse subjects.

Resource Optimization: Implementing AI-powered content generation can be a cost-effective solution for businesses. It can potentially streamline the content creation process and reduce associated expenses. The technology’s ability to handle multiple requests simultaneously makes it a scalable option for organizations with varied content needs.

Adaptable Writing Styles: Many AI writing tools offer customization options, allowing users to adjust the tone, style, and voice of the generated content. This flexibility enables the creation of text tailored to specific branding requirements or target audiences.

Round-the-Clock Availability: AI-powered content generators can operate continuously, providing 24/7 availability for content creation tasks. This constant accessibility can benefit businesses operating across different time zones or requiring rapid content turnaround.

ChatgGPT-Generated Articles vs. Human-Written Articles

Despite all AI’s glory and unwavering submission to human commands, AI’s limitations are the stepping stones for human writers to shine. 

1. Originality

If you’re starting with ChatGPT, spotting recurring words or phrases might not jump out at you right away. But if you’ve got your detective hat on, you’ll soon notice those sneaky repetitions in the AI’s responses. Here’s where the magic of a human writer truly shines.

Human writers meticulously handpick words, preparing their prose to connect with their readers. Every word is like a brushstroke, adding vitality and character to their writing, unlike AI, which often stirs out responses that can feel computerized and uninspired. So, as you dive into AI-generated content, keep your discerning eye open for those subtle patterns.

Take a look at the example below generated by ChatGPT:

Observe the above pattern. While ChatGPT might sound clever, paying attention to how it uses words to deliver its response will give you a sense of generic repetition. Take note of recurring terms like creativity, nuance, efficiency, and insights.

2. Creativity and Emotion

Human writers are quite frankly stubborn, emotional, and dramatic. They intentionally miss deadlines due to, perhaps, writer’s block episodes, which I call anxiety, or merely procrastinating.

They feel anxious if readers don’t like their content, so they choose their words carefully. They habitually inject life-hard lessons and emotions into their writings to avoid being forgotten remnants of society. Their intuition and hands-on research deliberately select phrases and idioms that captivate and provoke audiences. 

Also, human writers are both hopeful and anxious if the readers nod along or roll their eyes when reading their content.

AI, on the other hand, produces content to impress robots. Robots don’t get offended or fear them if their content utilizes repetition of words and phrases, generic output, and sometimes doesn’t make sense. It creates content based on human prompts to produce robotic content optimized for SEO purposes only, aka marketing.

3. Adaptability 

AI can struggle with unexpected challenges, even with recent current events. AI relies only on published, generic articles on the web. Human writers thrive on originality, covering new topics not yet on the web and quickly finding resourceful solutions to the latest happenings. 

I asked ChatGPT to write me listicles of what lucrative businesses will make money in 2024 based on a recent study in 2023.  

ChatGPT: “I’m unable to provide information based on events or studies from 2023 or beyond, as my knowledge is limited to information available up until September 2021. Predicting specific business opportunities for 2024 requires access to current market trends, economic conditions, and emerging constantly evolving technologies.“

Yes, ChatGPT excels at recombining existing data into new formats but lacks the ingenuity of a human writer for original work.  AI summarizes information well but cannot match human-crafted content’s creativity, experience, and novelty.

4. Subject Expertise

Human writers excel at infusing content with personal experiences and subjective insights, which are particularly valuable in product reviews and specialized topics. Their ability to draw on real-world encounters and emotional responses adds authenticity and depth to the writing. This experiential approach often resonates strongly with readers, offering relatable and trustworthy perspectives that AI systems like ChatGPT currently struggle to replicate.

The diversity of human experiences provides various viewpoints, helping audiences form well-rounded opinions on complex subjects in ways that AI cannot yet match.

AI Like ChatGPT and Human Writers Collaboration

Embrace AI without fear—it’s a tool, not a threat. We possess the unique qualities of emotion, connection, and depth at our core that AI lacks; after all, we created AI. It’s a human creation meant to simplify our work. 

Think of AI as the artist’s brush with fine hair and the ability to hold color from the artist’s palette. We are the painters framing masterpieces.

AI gathers data and formulates excellent content while we infuse it with facts, research, and humanity to ensure relatability and understanding with our readers.

We guide these machines to produce what we envision. If we grasp its potential, AI could be content creation’s greatest invention.

The ideal solution is using ChatGPT’s scalable raw output complemented by expert human oversight and editing to balance speed and discretion. This allows humans to focus on high-value creative work rather than repetitive writing tasks.

ChatGpt vs Human Writing: Who Has Better Content?

In a previous article, SEO Writing vs. Content Writing, I stated that my answer remains simple: It’s your choice!

When seeking top search rankings for your content,  AI-powered SEO tools can help you choose the right keywords to catch Googlebot’s roving eye.

If you wish to forge heartfelt human connections through personal stories and hard-won lessons, wield your pen with the power of your authentic voice.

There are no formulaic tricks or gimmicks here—only your unique words flowing from your deep well of experience. While SEO might grab a wider audience, vulnerable truth-telling beckons kindred spirits. So, write first for those who need your message the most. Trust that Google will take notice, as wisdom leaves footprints wherever it walks.

However, if you want your stories seen by more people, use emotional storytelling and AI tools to optimize your content. In this season of digital dependency, evolution is vital. We must keep pace with the futuristic machines we’ve built.

Embracing innovation and understanding how to wield it effectively is our ticket to staying ahead in this ever-changing digital terrain. Moreover, a 2023 research survey shows that 73% of respondents integrated generative artificial intelligence tools like chatbots into their company’s operations.

Statista reports that only 17% of American marketing professionals chose not to employ these AI tools.

Search engine optimization may not be the priority for writers who create evergreen content that profoundly engages readers. Crafting material that stands the test of time often requires resisting trends and writing from the heart.

Besides, platforms like Upwork still witness demand for human writers, with some employers preferring their proficiency over AI-generated content. Ultimately, the choice between AI and human writers hinges on your niche and business strategy.

But if you seek to harness AI’s full potential for effortless content creation, learn to guide and use it effectively. 

In other B2B spheres and digital marketing agencies,  those who harness AI often see evolved human writers as valuable collaborators, not rivals. The ideal scenario is collaboration, where ChatGPT assists human writers rather than replaces them entirely.

My Two Cents

Is ChatGPT better than human writers? 

Look, when it comes to optimizing content purely for search engines and online visibility, ChatGPT has an advantage- so that’s a YES. With the proper prompts,  AI can integrate semantic keywords seamlessly and structure content for maximum optimization. Yet content crafted solely for algorithms often lacks the flair, unique voice, and depth that engages with human readers.

While ChatGPT hits the mark for SEO, nothing replaces the creativity and connection of an exceptional human writer. The top-performing content strikes a balance – using AI for technical optimization while leaning on gifted writers to infuse personality and draw readers in. The synergy of human creativity and AI optimization may be the winning combination that both search engines and audiences crave.

Whether you embrace AI or rely on your innate content-creation skills, the essence of the process remains unchanged. Create content that is informative and educational and possesses the power to forge relatedness with our readers. Offer them valuable insights to enhance their businesses or establishments’ portfolios.

In the end, it’s about making a meaningful impact through our words and strategy.