Artificial intelligence (AI)—specifically, generative AI—has promised major shifts in workflows and productivity across nearly all industries. OpenAI’s ChatGPT came onto the scene only a few short years ago, followed quickly by competitors like Google Bard (now Gemini) and Microsoft BingChat (now Copilot). AI has delivered on its promises in that short time frame, and the impact has rippled through our daily lives.
AI tools have popped up everywhere, making everything a little bit easier. They summarize product reviews, provide technical support, help with searching the internet, generate images, write code, and write cohesive short and long-form content. Now that the most popular AI tools have evolved to include real-time internet access, there’s no end to what they can accomplish.
While AI has incredible potential to assist us in work and life and can trick us into believing it is truly intelligent, AI will never be human. It will always make mistakes and require human assistance to create thoughtful, nuanced content. Let’s explore how AI fits into the veterinary writing and marketing context, including benefits and limitations, ethical considerations, and how to make the most of AI without losing your human touch.
The role of AI in veterinary writing
AI tools can be valuable allies for veterinary professionals who need help with digital content creation to market their practice and keep clients engaged. AI can assist in writing social media posts, blogs, newsletters, website copy, emails, and more, minimizing leadership’s time spent on administrative tasks and maximizing clinical contact time for veterinarians and technicians.
AI also can significantly decrease the time needed to craft compelling content by helping brainstorm topics, structure outlines, improve search engine optimization (SEO), and even develop marketing plans and first drafts. Then, the content creators can focus their creative energy and time on writing or editing to match the team’s voice, mission, and vision.
Limitations of AI in veterinary writing
Although AI can generate text in seconds, its writing lacks the depth, empathy, creativity, and human voice needed to connect with pet owners. To deliver the personal touch that clients expect and ensure your content stands out, you’ll need to fine-tune what AI provides.
AI’s accuracy and so-called “hallucinations” are another challenge. AI models are trained on vast datasets, but often draw incorrect conclusions and falsify quotes or sources. AI-generated content needs careful oversight to avoid significant errors or omissions, especially when discussing nuanced veterinary topics.
Making the most of AI in veterinary writing
AI should support your writing and marketing efforts, not replace them. Start with a clear, detailed prompt to get the most from an AI tool. The more detail you provide about the desired tone, structure, purpose, background, and goals, for example, the better the output. If your prompt is generic, your output will be generic.
Breaking large tasks into smaller ones can help avoid confusing the AI. Do not ask for the generation of an entire article—ask first for an outline, and then an introduction, a conclusion, and each body section. Treat AI’s output as a rough framework and refine it through follow-up prompts and manual editing to align the content with your needs and goals. AI is only a tool—human expertise must take the lead to deliver meaningful content.
Ethical and legal considerations of AI in veterinary writing
AI is still a grey area ethically and legally, and misuse can put your practice at risk. Here are the main issues:
- Plagiarism — Generic prompts can lead the AI to produce similar outputs for multiple posts and websites. Using plagiarism and AI pattern checkers can help.
- Ownership — AI-generated content may or may not belong to you, so heavy editing to create something your own is critical.
- Data security — AI may store and use your inputs for further training, so don’t share sensitive information.
An essential human touch
Despite its innovative abilities, AI can’t replicate the human emotions necessary to write content that resonates with your target audience. Pet owners must feel a genuine connection to entrust you with their pet’s care. Human writers understand what readers look for and how to filter inaccurate or irrelevant information.
AI is best as a tool rather than a replacement for human writers. If you’re looking for a partner to elevate your team’s veterinary writing or to reduce the time commitment an effective digital presence requires, check out Rumpus Writing and Editing. Our expert team can take content creation off your plate with original, AI-assisted but human-focused (or 100% human-created) content that helps you achieve your business goals without sacrificing efficiency.
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