Will AI Replace Technical Writers?
UPDATE: July 2025
Two years have passed since I wrote this post. And the pace of change in AI models and tools has certainly picked up.
I’ll go ahead and change this prognostication—
“I think that level of quality is a long way off.”
—to something more like,
“I think that the level of quality is actually moot.”
Here’s the thing I whiffed on when I wrote this two years ago: Technical Communication has always been about more than content creation. The most obvious (and currently the most prevalent) way to use AI for our industry is to use it to write the content we’re tasked to create.
But if I took an account of the time I spend as the sole person responsible for technical communication in my day job, writing is one of the things that takes the least time. I spend most of my time doing things like meeting with subject matter experts, planning and managing content maintenance, updating video content, and learning about our product. All the while I use tools to help manage all of these—and nearly all these tools are integrating AI (albeit with varying levels of success). The job now is more about orchestrating these tools to accomplish your goals—all while applying your understanding of your end-users needs and the tenets of good technical communication.
So, I think the bottom line in the advice here is actually still perfectly correct—namely,
“Instead of replacing you, current AI tools can enhance your output. They can help you automate mundane tasks and offer valuable insights, leaving you with more time and brainpower to focus on the creative aspects of your work.”
However, it does mean that you’ll be more efficient in your work and, thus, be able to deliver more. And for individuals, that is one of those “good news; bad news” situations…
The Good News
More is better. More means your organization gets more out of your time and their investment in you. This is especially valuable for small companies or businesses with small margins. If you work in a start-up or for yourself, you are so much more valuable as someone who can provide insight into user needs and then be able to deliver fast, high-quality work.
The Bad News
If fewer people can do more work, I think we’ll see a contracture of jobs in the technical writing market—at least at first.
Hope for the Future
Businesses over-correct a lot. I think we’ll see layoffs and attrition across traditional “Technical Writer” positions, because it’s so common to think of technical writers as just content creators. But over time, I think we’ll see the rise of titles like “Documentation Strategist” or “Documentation Architect”. These jobs will probably have the same kinds of KPIs and actual work the technical writers do now, but they will better acknowledge the necessary interdisciplinary work that technical communications is really all about.
Don’t Get Left Behind
The crucial thing to take away from this is that you DO need to figure out how to use AI. You DO need to start thinking creatively about ways to to apply AI tools to just about everything you do. We all know that person who is still hunting-and-pecking because they don’t want to learn to type. Or someone who insists on email because they don’t like the company instant messaging platform.
You don’t want to be that person. They get left behind.
If you don’t want AI to replace you, continue to use AI for what it is good at, and hyper-focus on the work isn’t.
Good luck out there!
I’m back after taking some time off to enjoy the summer, and wouldn’t you know it, people are still talking about AI. So I suppose it’s time to address it here.
If you work in tech, I’m willing to bet your company is talking about artificial intelligence. I’m also willing to bet that the consensus is either a:
Breathless “WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THIS” 😱
Resigned “I don’t have the time to deal with this right now” 🤦
Luckily, if you’re a technical writer, you’re probably not in a position to have to decide the details of your company’s product and corporate strategy relative to AI development and application.
However, there is that nagging question: Is my job safe?
I’m going to address this right up front: I DO think there will be a day that AI platforms will be able to make great quality technical content, making technical writers more or less obsolete. Sorry 😕. BUT the good news for us is that I think that level of quality is a long way off. (Hopefully at least until I retire… sorry kids.)
However, sooner than later you will absolutely see first-to-market products claiming to be the solution that automates technical writing. And some of them…well, they might be okay. And that is kind of scary. Because I think most people know that if a company can save headcount by substituting something that is okay in the place of a human position that is often misunderstood and undervalued—they absolutely will.
So, how can you put yourself in the best position to weather the early days of automation?
Learn How to Incorporate AI into Technical Writing
For now, until AI gets good enough (“a long way off,” I said!), there will be tasks that humans will be doing better than our digital counterparts.
For example, AI excels at processing and generating data, but it struggles with creativity, nuance, and empathy. This is what humans are great at—the qualities that make your writing relatable and understandable to users.
Likewise, while AI can generate content, it often requires human intervention to ensure accuracy, coherence, and relevance. Your expertise will still be important to maintain high-quality technical documentation.
So, that’s a relief, right?. Still, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn how to best to use what current AI tools are good at, to make you as productive and effective as possible. It also doesn’t hurt to display an understanding of AI, its limitations, and its benefits to you leadership. Keep in mind: your management is probably interested in how AI can make their departments leaner—be ready to display your knowledge and interest in applying AI to your workflow.
Instead of replacing you, current AI tools can enhance your output. They can help you automate mundane tasks and offer valuable insights, leaving you with more time and brainpower to focus on the creative aspects of your work.
So how do you use AI in technical writing? Read on…
5 Tips for Using AI to Elevate Your Technical Writing Game
1. Generating Initial Drafts with AI
You can use AI-powered content generation tools to create initial drafts of your documentation.
AI can help you kickstart your writing process by generating a preliminary draft. Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT can analyze your input and provide a coherent outline or even a full paragraph. This can be very useful when you're facing writer's block or just need a nudge in the right direction.
Remember, though, this is just a starting point. Your unique insights and expertise will be required to refine and polish the content.
2. Improving Clarity and Readability
Use AI to analyze your document for readability and clarity.
One of the crucial aspects of technical writing is ensuring that your content is easily understandable by your target audience. AI can assist you by evaluating your text for readability metrics like the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level—and suggest improvements. Tools like Grammarly can also provide real-time suggestions to enhance the clarity and coherence of your writing.
3. Automating Proofreading and Editing
Use AI-driven proofreading and editing tools to catch grammar and spelling errors.
Nobody's perfect, and even the most seasoned technical writers can overlook grammar or spelling mistakes. (I am certainly not immune.) AI-powered proofreading and editing tools like ProWritingAid or Hemingway Editor can be invaluable in catching these errors. They also provide style suggestions, helping you maintain consistency throughout your documentation.
4. Creating Visual Content
Explore AI-driven solutions to create eye-catching visuals for your technical documents.
In today's digital age, visuals are a crucial part of technical documentation. AI tools like Canva or Adobe Express can assist you in creating professional-looking infographics, diagrams, and charts. These visuals not only enhance the visual appeal of your content but also make complex information easier to understand.
5. Analyzing User Data for Content Optimization
Use AI to analyze user data and gather insights for content optimization.
To truly excel as a technical writer, you need to understand your audience's needs and preferences. AI-powered analytics tools can help you gather insights from user interactions with your documentation. By studying user behavior, you can identify which sections of your content are most accessed and which need improvement. This data-driven approach ensures that you're providing the information your users truly need.
AI Isn’t Your Enemy…(Yet)
Try not to be intimidated by the adoption of AI in the world of technical writing. Instead, see it as an opportunity to level up your skills and become a more effective and efficient writer. At the moment, AI is here to assist you, and by embracing it as your friend, you can continue to deliver higher-quality technical content and boost your productivity.
So, get out there, experiment with AI tools, and discover how they can complement your technical writing. Remember: your unique perspective, creativity, and expertise will always be at the heart of what you do. AI is just here to lend a helping hand, making your process smoother and more successful.
