How to Edit AI-Generated Text

Transform your AI-generated materials into compelling copy that strikes the right chord with your readers. This year, artificial intelligence has accelerated its takeover of the content creation industry, and business professionals are searching for ways to humanize their final products. Discover how to post-edit AI-generated content to impress both GoogleBot and your readers.

What Is AI-Generated Content?

AI-generated content is text or imagery created by a computer algorithm in response to human prompts. Artificial intelligence automatically drafts documents through a process known as natural language generation (NLG). 

How Does AI-Generated Content Work?

AI-generated content works by comparing a human query to all available information on the Internet in order to answer the user’s question. The quality of AI generated content will depend on the specificity of the user’s command and the amount of relevant content on the web.  

Who Owns AI-Generated Content?

AI often supplies the same answer to similar questions, especially simple queries. In cases where two users publish the same AI-generated text, whoever published first would own the copyright. Providers of AI content have no intellectual property claim because a copyright requires a human author. Thus, there are very few AI-generated content copyright cases.

Why Should AI-Generated Content Be Post-Edited?

AI-generated content should be post-edited because discerning readers can still tell whether an article was written by a human or a machine. Despite advances in AI content generation over the past decade, AI text still contains grammatical mistakes, awkward phrasing, and factual errors. Proper post-editing will improve the accuracy, coherence, and readability of your AI content.

Is AI-Generated Content Spam?

AI-generated content is spam if you make no alterations of any kind and other publishers release the same exact content. However, as long as you edit the article that your AI content generator creates, you can avoid spam accusations.  

Should I Use AI-Generated Content for SEO?

You should use AI-generated content for SEO, especially if you need to publish thousands of articles within a single business year. Google reversed its stance on AI-generated marketing content in February of 2023, stating it will reward “high-quality content, however it is produced.” Some of the industries that successfully use AI content for SEO include:

• Journalism and content creation

• Translation and transcription

• Marketing and advertising

The Terminology of Post-Editing

Institutions began to study machine translation post-editing (MTPE) in the 1980s, right after the technology found its first use cases in government agencies and large corporations. Since then, other terms related to post-editing have emerged, such as:

• Pre-editing — Preparing a document for machine translation

• Light post-editing — Improving the readability of AI content

• Full post-editing — Enhancing the style of an AI-generated translation

• Humanize — Conforming content to modern sensibilities and search engine guidelines

6 Best Practices for Editing AI-Generated Texts

As the sophistication of AI technology rapidly increases, so does the rate at which editors must adapt to new tools and techniques. Let’s take a look at some of the best practices for post-editing AI content.

1. Understand the AI Model

AI models use computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing to identify patterns in existing content. They draw upon what they’ve learned to meet goals; namely, answering your question or responding to your command in a relevant, coherent manner. The more AI models learn through data input, the better they emulate human beings.

2. Identify Errors and Inconsistencies

Every writer, editor, and translator who has used AI to create content knows that the first draft will not be perfect. You will need to edit AI text heavily to avoid errors and inconsistencies. Some of the things you should look for when post-editing AI-generated content include:

• Grammatical errors

• Repetitive phrases

• Excessive passive voice

• Inconsistent spelling or term usage

• Factual mistakes

3. Focus on the Big Picture

Maintaining your brand’s voice remains a crucial aspect of post-editing. No AI will match your established writing style and tone, even with the best possible prompts. Similarly, AI content often lacks flow and nuance, making it seem robotic or lifeless. You must post-edit to humanize your AI content and improve the user experience.   

4. Provide Feedback to Improve the AI Model

Enjoy better results in the future by providing feedback to ChatGPT, Bard, and other AI writing programs. Most AI text generators allow users to provide feedback regarding their experiences. Make sure you provide as much detail about the actions you performed and the errors that you noticed in the AI-generated copy. 

5. Use an AI-Generated Content Checker

After you humanize your AI-generated article through post-editing, run it through an AI content checker. These programs will tell you if web crawlers and human readers will view your content as AI-generated. Some of the best AI-generated content checkers include:

• Originality.ai

• Copyleaks

• Sapling.ai

• Hugging Face

• Content at scale

6. Take Plenty of Breaks

Using AI to write your web pages, blog posts, and other marketing materials is exciting because it’s a faster way to get things done. However, it’s easy to get carried away with how productive you feel while using it. So, you should schedule plenty of breaks during the post-editing process to avoid burnout.

FAQs

How much time should be allocated for post-editing AI-generated content compared to human-generated content?

Allocating time for post-editing AI-generated content largely depends on the complexity and quality of the original text. Generally, you should expect to spend about half the time it would take to edit human-generated content. While AI can produce coherent text quickly, it often requires significant adjustments for tone, accuracy, and context. For high-quality outputs, plan on thorough reviews and multiple editing passes to ensure the content meets your standards.

Are there any guidelines or checklists available for ensuring the quality of post-edited AI content?

Yes, there are several guidelines and checklists you can follow to ensure quality in your post-edited AI content. Key elements include:

• Accuracy: Verify facts and data for correctness.

• Consistency: Ensure consistent terminology and style.

• Tone and Style: Adjust to match your brand's voice.

• Clarity and Coherence: Enhance readability and logical flow.

• Grammar and Punctuation: Correct any errors.

• SEO Optimization: Incorporate keywords effectively.

• Contextual Relevance: Ensure the content aligns with the topic and audience expectations.

Having a comprehensive checklist can streamline the editing process and help maintain high standards.

Can AI-generated content be used in specialized fields, such as legal or medical writing, and what are the post-editing requirements for such fields?

Yes, AI-generated content can be used in specialized fields like legal or medical writing, but it requires meticulous post-editing. Here are some key requirements:

• Accuracy and Precision: Ensure all terminologies and facts are correct.

• Compliance: Verify that content adheres to industry-specific regulations and standards.

• Clarity: Simplify complex terms and ensure the content is understandable for the target audience.

• Confidentiality: Maintain privacy and handle sensitive information appropriately.

• Ethical Considerations: Ensure the content respects ethical guidelines and is free from bias.

Post-editing in these fields often involves collaboration with subject matter experts to ensure the content's reliability and professionalism.

Conclusion

Although AI-generated content has come a long way in recent years, it may never be perfect. You must post-edit every piece of AI content you produce to ensure quality. Fortunately, as long as you follow best practices, you can create compelling copy with AI that touches your readers and ranks well on search engine results pages.