Chat Bots Can’t Tell Dad Jokes

Why the world still needs human copywriters

Have you heard the one about the chocolate record player? It sounds pretty sweet.

Ah, the dad joke. The bedrock of human comedic interaction. And, as yet, largely beyond the capacity of artificial intelligence. But you’d be forgiven for wondering why on earth that matters, given the fact that we’re clearly in the middle of a content-writing revolution of sorts, and making full use of the humble pun is not necessarily the top priority when it comes to crafting the words that connect you to your ideal customers.

Do dad jokes make sales? Well, no. Not necessarily. (Except where they do, of course, which is where brand voice comes into its own.) But this isn’t about the dad joke, not at its heart. 

This is about the limits of what AI can do. And why, as a copywriter, I’m not worried about being automated out of existence. 

Quite the contrary, in fact.

What is AI Copywriting?

Artificial intelligence (AI) copywriting is the use of machine learning algorithms to generate written content. It's a relatively new technology that has gained popularity in recent years. The idea behind AI copywriting is to automate the content writing process and save time and money.
​
AI copywriting can be used to produce different types of content, including blog posts, social media posts, product descriptions, or emails. The AI algorithms analyse vast amounts of data to identify patterns and generate unique and engaging content. As such, many companies have started using it to automate their content writing process.

Is it better than human copywriters, though?

Define “better.” For sure, it’s fast and efficient and it doesn’t have a mortgage to pay, meaning the costs associated with using an AI assistant are significantly reduced. AI algorithms can generate content in a matter of seconds, while it may take us meatbags hours or even days to produce the same amount of content.

(Note that I said amount, though. Not quality. Amount.)

It’s also optimised for search engines, which is great and all, but so is human-written content if you want it to be.
​
Finally, AI copywriting is cost-effective. Companies can save money by using AI to generate their content instead of hiring human copywriters. Can’t argue with that one, because good human-written copy isn’t cheap. Shouldn’t be, either. When you’re paying for human-written content, you are paying for far more than the words on the page. You’re paying for expertise, years of experience, the time taken to gain an in-depth understanding of your business, your audience, your tone-of-voice principles. Your branding. Whether or not your customers go in for dad jokes. The works.

But, yes, there’s no denying that AI copywriting is cheaper. We’ll take the hit on that one.

Here comes the “but”...

See, one of the main limitations is that the algorithms can only generate content based on the data they have been trained on.
​
This means that the content generated by AI copywriting usually lacks the creativity and originality that humans can bring. Algorithms also can’t understand the more subtle nuances of human language, which can result in awkward phrasing, or missed opportunities for connection.

This is where the dad joke thing comes in.

Because humans are creative. We’re hard-wired to it. And we understand the place of creativity in human society. Machines don’t. They can mimic it, but there’s no fire beneath the substance. An algorithm doesn’t understand the place of meme, humour, reassuring phraseology, collective experience in the process of interpersonal trust-building. All it can do is take a stab at what it sees in the works that we’ve produced to date.

This is why human copywriting is naturally more persuasive and emotionally engaging than AI copywriting. Humans use storytelling and emotional appeals to connect with their audience, which can result in higher engagement and conversion rates.

Finally, human copywriting can be more adaptable to different situations. Humans can adjust their writing style and tone to fit different audiences and purposes. No dad jokes? Fine, no worries. Maybe you want humour that appeals specifically to a particular generation. Maybe you need to play on words against something your competitor is doing. Maybe you just need to make your customer feel seen with an off-the-cuff remark that earns a huff of exhausted laughter and the relief that comes with realising they’re not alone.

AI can’t do that. You need empathy and emotionality to do that. If machines develop those two things… well, quite honestly, we’ve probably got bigger problems than appealing to prospective clients, anyway, and I for one welcome our new robotic overlords.

Some thoughts from my AI associate

But don’t just take my word for it. I asked an AI chat bot for its opinion on the matter. Here’s what it had to say:

As an AI assistant, I have often been asked if AI copywriting can replace human copywriting when it comes to delivering humor. It's a fair question, as dad jokes are a staple of our society, and they have been for generations. So, can AI copywriting deliver the same kind of humor as humans? Let's find out.

The answer is not straightforward. While AI copywriting can generate a large volume of jokes quickly and efficiently, the jokes may lack the creativity and originality that humans can bring.

On the other hand, human copywriting can produce more personalized and emotionally engaging jokes, but it may take longer and be more expensive than AI copywriting.

Ultimately, the answer depends on the specific needs and preferences of the company or individual. Some may prefer the speed and cost-effectiveness of AI copywriting, while others may value the creativity and emotional connection of human copywriting.

To illustrate the differences between AI and human-written dad jokes, let's look at some examples.

AI-Written Dad Joke
Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything.

This joke is a classic example of an AI-generated dad joke. It's clever and amusing, but it lacks the personal touch and originality that human copywriting can bring.

Human-Written Dad Joke
Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing.
​
This joke is an example of a human-written dad joke. It's personalized, original, and emotionally engaging. It's also a good example of how humans can use puns and wordplay to create humor.

Source: WriteSonic AI Article Writer 4.0

The Future of AI and Human Copywriting

The fact of the matter is that AI copywriting is a tool, plain and simple. It’s a powerful tool and a very useful one, and human copywriters would be crazy not to get on board, because it has the power to make our lives easier. It can significantly cut down on the length of time we need to plan out an article, pull together our thoughts, and organise our key points in an engaging and compelling way. We’ll still need to write the thing, though, to make sure it’s hitting all your key messages in a way that feels natural, relatable and appealing to your target audience, all while keeping your brand voice in mind – and that’s where the craft comes in.

And, yes, maybe we’ll lose some work to AI. “Lose” might be the wrong word, though. There are always going to be businesses that can’t justify the expense of a human copywriter or who haven’t come around to the value of hiring an expert. AI is likely to be the right choice for those businesses, and that’s fine.

Because in a contest between quantity and quality, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. AI copywriting can generate a large volume of content quickly, but the quality won’t always be consistent. Or personalised. Or tailored to your brand. Human copywriting, on the other hand, may produce fewer pieces of content, but the quality will be higher. We’ll bring an emotional connection and creativity to our writing that AI algorithms cannot replicate.

Ultimately, the solution you choose will depend on the specific needs and preferences of your brand. That will change and evolve over time. Sometimes you may prefer the speed and cost-effectiveness of AI copywriting; sometimes you may need the creativity and emotional connection of human copywriting. 

The future of AI and human copywriting is both exciting and as yet unwritten. And, as a copywriter, ignoring all those crazy, wonderful possibilities and trying to stay rooted in the way we’ve always done things would be like a pencil with an eraser on both ends.

Pointless.
​
I’ll see myself out…

let's chat