What Impact Will AI Writing Have on the Future of Journalism?
AI content crossed 50% of all new articles in November 2024. The shift happened faster than expected, driven by cost collapse. But search engines suppress most AI content, keeping 86% of rankings human-written.
Podcast – AI Content Overtakes Humans: Search Strategy Impact
Core facts:
- AI hit 50.3% of new articles published in November 2024
- AI articles cost under a penny vs. $10-$100 for human writers
- 86% of Google rankings still go to human-written content
- AI content growth plateaued in May 2024
When did AI content overtake human writing?
November 2024 marked the crossover point.
AI content reached 50.3% of new articles published online. Machines now produce more content than humans do.
ChatGPT launched in November 2022. Within 12 months, AI already created 39% of all articles. Two years later, machines crossed the majority mark.
Bottom line: The internet shifted to majority AI content in 24 months.
AI Content Growth Timeline
Nov 2022: ChatGPT Launch
Nov 2023: 39% AI Content
May 2024: Growth Plateaus
Nov 2024: 50.3% AI Content
What drives publishers to choose AI content?
Economics explains the shift.
An AI article costs less than a penny to generate. Human writers charge $10 to $100 for the same piece. That’s a 1,000x to 10,000x cost difference.
Publishers facing budget pressure made a straightforward calculation. AI enables them to maintain or expand output while cutting expenses.
Major companies already use AI extensively. Bloomberg publishes about one-third of its content using automated systems.
These tools analyze financial reports and generate news stories in seconds.
Bottom line: Cost reduction drove rapid AI adoption across publishing.
Does AI content rank well in search results?
No. Search engines identified and suppressed most AI content.
Research shows 86% of articles ranking in Google search were written by humans. Only 14% were AI-generated.
AI article production also plateaued around May 2024. Publishers learned that volume alone doesn’t drive visibility or engagement.
About 93% of marketers edit AI content before publishing. Raw AI output needs human refinement to connect with readers and perform well.
Bottom line: Volume doesn’t guarantee rankings or results.
Key insight: Despite AI producing 50.3% of content, it captures only 14% of search rankings.
What does this mean for your content strategy?
You face a choice between two approaches.
The first option: chase volume with cheap AI content. You’ll compete with millions of other machine-generated articles for the 14% of rankings that go to AI content.
The second option: invest in distinctive human-created work. When everything sounds similar, different wins. When AI floods every topic, authentic perspective becomes valuable.
Your audience can access generic information anywhere now. What they can’t find everywhere is your specific experience and earned insights from running a business.
Bottom line: Distinctive human work became more valuable as AI content proliferated.
How should entrepreneurs respond to this shift?
Focus on what AI can’t replicate easily.
AI generates thousands of articles on any topic. But it struggles with genuine insight, specific experience, and authentic perspective.
Build your content strategy around:
- Your direct business experience
- Unique angles others don’t cover
- Genuine expertise in your field
- Real examples from your work
The entrepreneurs who win won’t publish the most. They’ll publish what matters to their specific audience.
Bottom line: Quality and distinctiveness matter more than volume.
What does this mean for your content strategy?
You face a choice between two approaches.
The first option: chase volume with cheap AI content. You’ll compete with millions of other machine-generated articles for the 14% of rankings that go to AI content.
The second option: invest in distinctive human-created work. When everything sounds similar, different wins. When AI floods every topic, authentic perspective becomes valuable.
Your audience can access generic information anywhere now. What they can’t find everywhere is your specific experience and earned insights from running a business.
Bottom line: Distinctive human work became more valuable as AI content proliferated.
Common questions about AI content
How much does AI content cost compared to human writing?
AI content costs under a penny per article. Human writers charge $10 to $100 for similar work. The cost difference ranges from 1,000x to 10,000x.
Can people tell the difference between AI and human content?
Detection becomes harder as AI improves and humans work with AI tools. Most marketers edit AI content before publishing, creating a blend of both.
Will AI content eventually dominate search rankings?
Current data suggests no. Search engines appear to identify and suppress AI content. Human-written articles hold 86% of search rankings despite AI producing more total content.
When did AI content production plateau?
AI article production stopped growing around May 2024. Publishers discovered that volume alone doesn’t drive traffic or engagement.
Do major publishers use AI content?
Yes. Bloomberg publishes about one-third of its content using AI systems. Other major publishers like Forbes and Reuters also use AI tools for content production.
Should small businesses use AI for content?
AI works as a tool when combined with human editing and genuine expertise. Using AI alone to chase volume typically doesn’t produce strong results.
What makes human content more valuable now?
Authentic perspective, specific experience, and genuine insight stand out when AI floods topics with generic information. Distinctiveness became the differentiator.
How fast did this transition happen?
AI went from 0% to 50.3% of new articles in 24 months. ChatGPT launched in November 2022. AI crossed the majority mark in November 2024.
Key takeaways
- AI content crossed 50% of all new articles in November 2024, reaching this milestone in just 24 months
- Cost collapse drove adoption: AI costs under a penny per article vs. $10-$100 for human writers
- Search engines suppress most AI content, with 86% of rankings going to human-written articles
- AI content growth plateaued in May 2024 as publishers learned volume doesn’t guarantee visibility
- Distinctive human work became more valuable as generic AI content proliferated
- Focus your strategy on authentic perspective and genuine expertise rather than chasing volume
