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AI-generated content is spreading like wildfire, and it’s causing headaches. Even major news outlets are getting caught publishing bizarre AI-written articles from tools like ChatGPT and Jasper.
Don’t get us wrong, AI has its place. For instance, it can be very useful for keyword research or to create rough article outlines. But when it comes to writing content that resonates with readers and ranks well? That’s where human writers shine.
Our clients often ask about AI detection tools. They want to know: “Can we use these to make sure your writers aren’t secretly using AI?” Popular tools like ZeroGPT, Originality.ai, and Copyleaks claim they can spot AI writing by identifying telltale patterns. Sounds promising, right?
Well, our testing showed these detectors just aren’t reliable. They frequently mistake human-written content for AI.
While AI content flooding the internet is definitely concerning, relying on AI detectors isn’t the answer. Let us walk you through how these detectors work, why they fall short, and what better approaches your business can take to maintain content quality.
AI Detectors Are Useless, and Here’s Why
You’re not the only one wondering if AI detectors actually work. Lots of website owners are asking the same question. The reality is they’re just not reliable enough to be useful.
And here’s the kicker: even OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, admits that these detectors don’t work well. Here’s what they say: “Do AI detectors work? In short, no, not in our experience. Our research into detectors didn’t show them to be reliable.”
Many people have put these tools to the test and came up with the same conclusion. According to Christopher Penn, who runs data science at Trust Insights in Boston, “AI detectors are a joke.” He used the Declaration of Independence for his test. The results were pretty absurd. One of the most widely used detectors, ZeroGPT, claimed that Thomas Jefferson and friends used AI to write 97.7% of the famous document.
Similarly, if you run a section of the US Constitution through ZeroGPT, it flags the text as “likely to be written entirely by AI.” So much for accuracy.
The same tool even thinks that the Holy Bible is also generated by AI. For a section of the Book of Genesis from the Bible, it says it is 88.2% AI-generated! All these texts wereYou know, the Holy Bible, which has been around for centuries, long before the advent of electric devices, computers, or the Internet. Well, according to ZeroGPT, have been around for centuries, long before the advent of electric devices, computers, or the Internet.
We also run our own tests.
First, we run an article titled “What is White Hat SEO and How to Implement It” which was written by our founder Aleksandra, a content writer with almost a decade of experience in the industry. According to ZeroGPT, most of the text is AI-generated (69.2%), even though it was created in April 2017, five years before ChatGPT or any other AI tool was launched.
Then, we asked Claude.ai to write us a conversational paragraph about the iPhone 16 Pro’s cameras. We ran the response through ZeroGPT, and (surprise, surprise), the detector said the text was 100% human-written!
So, what’s the deal? Platforms like Originality.ai and GPTZero claim they can spot AI-written content by analyzing text patterns that match popular AI models like GPT-4. That’s great, isn’t it? Nobody wants to pay good money for content that a chatbot churned out.
The problem is that these tools are triggering false positives left and right. They’re flagging human-written work as AI-generated, which is causing real problems. Think about students getting accused of cheating when they actually wrote their papers themselves. Or businesses rejecting legitimate content because they think their writers used ChatGPT.
A lot of companies don’t realize just how oversensitive and flat-out wrong these detectors can be. They see the “AI-generated” flag and automatically assume they’re being scammed with computer-written content.
But don’t worry, you don’t have to rely on these unreliable detectors to ensure you’re getting quality, human-written content. Let us show you some better ways to evaluate your content.
5 Tips for Better Content in the AI Age
Let’s talk about what really matters when it comes to content quality in this AI era. Forget those unreliable AI detectors, here’s what actually works:
Write Where You Can Track Progress
Our team at Digitapult has a simple but effective approach: We use Google Docs for everything. Why? Because we can see exactly how a piece evolved through the revision history. If something seems off, like a whole article appearing out of nowhere or writing that doesn’t match the writer’s usual style, it’s pretty easy to spot.
Focus on What Your Readers Actually Want
Here’s the thing: AI might be able to write words, but it often misses the mark on understanding what readers are really looking for. Think about it – would you trust a chatbot to write about your latest product release? It doesn’t know your business, your customers, or their needs like a human does.
Instead of obsessing over whether something was AI-written, ask yourself: Does this content actually help our readers? Does it answer their questions? Does it reflect our unique expertise and understanding of our customers? That’s what really matters.
Be Smart About Using AI
Look, we’re not completely anti-AI. These tools can be genuinely helpful for certain tasks. Need blog topic ideas or a rough outline? ChatGPT can help with that. Then, hand it off to a human writer to create something original and engaging. The key is having clear guidelines about when AI tools make sense and when they don’t.
Make It Easy to Read
Let’s be honest: no one wants to wade through endless walls of text, which is exactly what AI tends to produce. Keep your content reader-friendly by:
- Using simpler language that anyone can understand
- Running a quick Grammarly check (just ignore its AI detection – it’s notorious for crying wolf)
- Breaking things up visually with bullets, headers, and callouts
- Adding custom visuals and videos to make your point clearer.
Say Something Worth Reading
The problem with using AI to create content is that you end up with the same bland stuff everyone else is publishing. Why would anyone stick around to read that?
You need to bring something new to the table. The great thing about sharing your unique insights and experiences? AI can’t copy them. When you offer fresh perspectives and real expertise, readers will naturally gravitate to your content.
Pro tip: Tap into your company’s experts. They’ve got years of knowledge that even the fanciest AI can’t match.
Instead of getting hung up on whether ChatGPT wrote something, ask yourself if it’s actually worth reading. AI tools typically just remix what’s already out there instead of creating something groundbreaking.
Need Help Creating Great Content?
Content creation takes time, and AI might seem tempting when you’re in a crunch. But there’s a better way. At Digitapult, our team of professional writers can help you create content that actually connects with your audience – no AI required.
Want to stop worrying about AI content and start seeing real results? Let’s talk.
