It is a great and detailed topic of debate if AI can in fact really replace creative workers with some believing that AI will provide new tools for creative professionals while others argue that AI is already replacing them.
One real-life example comes from Olivia Lipkin, a copywriter based in San Francisco. Lipkin shared her story with the Washington Post, revealing how her role changed after the introduction of ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot, at her workplace.
Managers started assigning tasks to “Olivia/ChatGPT,” treating the human and the chatbot as interchangeable. Over time, Lipkin noticed a decline in her workload. Eventually, in April of this year, she was let go without a clear explanation.
However, Lipkin later discovered on Slack that her managers had discussed the cost-effectiveness of using ChatGPT instead of employing a writer.
“Whenever people brought up ChatGPT, I felt insecure and anxious that it would replace me,” she told the paper. “Now I actually had proof that it was true, that those anxieties were warranted and now I was actually out of a job because of AI.”
Lipkin’s experience is not unique. In fact, a recent report by job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas revealed that AI had led to the elimination of nearly 4,000 jobs in May alone.
While some individuals have chosen to adapt and train as “prompt engineers” to enhance their careers using AI tools like ChatGPT, Lipkin has taken a different path. Instead, the 25-year-old has shifted to dog walking to support herself financially while pursuing her creative writing aspirations in her spare time.
These stories highlight the growing impact of AI on creative workers. While some may find new opportunities by leveraging AI technologies, others, like Lipkin, face the challenge of adapting to a changing landscape and seeking alternative means of income.
“I’m totally taking a break from the office world,” Lipkin said. “People are looking for the cheapest solution, and that’s not a person — that’s a robot.”
