AI-written LinkedIn posts are boosting demand for human ghostwriters

In short: More LinkedIn posts appear to be written with AI, and that is leading some executives to hire human ghostwriters to sound more real.

What's going on

LinkedIn is filling up with posts that look and sound like they were written by artificial intelligence, meaning software that can produce text after reading lots of examples online. Some users call this low-quality, generic writing “AI slop.” Others describe a common style full of clichés and line breaks as “broetry.”

The Financial Times reports that startups now sell tools that generate LinkedIn posts in seconds. Some executives also outsource the whole process, with virtual assistants reportedly being paid about $7 an hour to type instructions into ChatGPT and post for them.

One estimate suggests the shift is already large. Research by Originality AI, a company that tries to spot AI-written text, said about 81 percent of long LinkedIn posts in July were likely AI-generated. LinkedIn has also added a feature that lets users flag posts as “AI slop” so they do not see them.

As more posts start to look the same, some CEOs and founders are paying for writing that feels more personal. The FT describes ghostwriting businesses growing, including one Toronto-based operator who said his business more than doubled in the past year. A UK ghostwriter told the FT they charge roughly £350 per LinkedIn post.

What to watch

LinkedIn may face more pressure to label or limit AI-written posts, since readers cannot easily tell what is written by a person and what is automated. Another area to watch is “engagement pods,” which are groups that coordinate likes and comments (like friends agreeing to clap for each other) to make posts look more popular than they are.

Source: Financial Times