Will AI Replace Writers? Why Human Health Writers Are Here to Stay and How to Set Yourself Apart From Artificial Intelligence

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by medical writer Rachel Pascal. Based in the UK, Rachel is a freelance medical writer who has worked with a diverse range of clients on projects ranging from brand messaging and website copywriting to blog articles and patient education. Find Rachel here. 

Hands up if you’ve asked “Will AI replace writers?” at some point in the last few months? Or, if you’ve questioned how you, a human health writer, can stand out when artificial intelligence (AI) seems almost ubiquitous.  

Maybe you’ve wondered if human-created health content is something clients will want and be willing to pay for within a few years.   

If you raised your hand (or even both hands), you’re not alone. The chat around generative AI tools like ChatGPT has writers everywhere asking these million-dollar questions.  

Sure, AI can whip up blog posts faster than you can say “healthcare content marketing,” but does faster and cheaper really mean better? 

When it comes to healthcare marketing, the answer is a resounding no. Why? Because writing accurate, relatable health information that engages, informs, educates or drives action requires more than an algorithm—I’d argue it requires a beating heart (and no, AI doesn’t have one of those).  

The role of artificial intelligence in health writing: useful, but limited 

Let’s give credit where it’s due: AI is impressive.  

It can scan the web in mere seconds, summarise research articles in less time than it takes your brain to read the title, and even mimic a conversational tone. It can help create quick explanations of common conditions or write a list of questions to ask your interview subject. It can propose a basic blog post structure, give ideas for keywords or provide a quick list of hashtags for your social post.   

But here’s the catch… 

Can you really trust AI to give you reliable health advice? To write a list of references that are submission-ready? To ‘think’ clearly, without hallucination?  

Unfortunately, no. (Or fortunately, if you’re a human health writer worrying about your job!) 

Generative AI tools often pull from outdated or unreliable sources, and while ChatGPT can sound confident, it’s not immune to major blunders. Imagine trusting an AI that suggests pineapple juice can cure migraines… 

Health writing involves life-or-death topics, so accuracy, nuance and ethical standards matter. That’s where we freelance health writers, and our human-created health content, come in. 

The human health writing advantage 

Human writers bring something to the table that AI will never be able to: human experience. Here’s how we stand out: 

1. Humans have empathy and emotional insight 

AI might know the stats (although remember: these may be out of date or taken out of context), but it can’t feel what it’s like to receive a scary diagnosis or worry about a loved one. Human writers use that empathy to craft content that connects. For example, explaining treatment options to a patient who’s already overwhelmed requires sensitivity and compassion—not just numbers and graphs. 

1. Humans can detect context and nuance 

Ever tried explaining a complex medical topic to a 12-year-old and a PhD in the same room? Human writers often excel at adapting tone, context and style for different audiences. Yes, AI can certainly do this too, but it sometimes struggles to understand the subtleties, which can make its content feel robotic (pun intended). 

1.  Humans have fact-checking superpowers 

Yes, you are a fact-checking superhero! AI’s data comes from everywhere, which means it can regurgitate misinformation. Good human health writers research credible sources, cross-check facts and make sure every claim stands up to scrutiny. 

1. Human have ethical awareness 

From HIPAA compliance to understanding sensitive health topics, human writers know how to navigate the ethical and legal minefields of health writing. AI just doesn’t get it—and that could spell trouble for brands relying too heavily on it. 

Marketing yourself: why clients should choose you over AI 

So, if the choice is human writer vs. generative AI tool, how do you show potential clients that you’re the better choice?  

Here’s how to market yourself as a freelance health writer who is worth every penny: 

• Showcase your education, freelance health writing experience or even a knack for translating “doctor-speak” into plain English. 

• Explain how you research, verify and tailor content to each client’s unique needs.  

• Emphasise your ability to connect with readers, convey empathy and write stories that resonate—something AI just can’t replicate. 

• Give examples of how your approach outshines generic AI outputs. 

• Remind clients that without considered human input, AI tools are useless… Think of it this way: AI is a calculator, you’re the math teacher. The calculator is fast, but it’s useless without the teacher’s guidance. 

The final say…  

So, will AI replace writers?  

Not anytime soon. While tools like ChatGPT can help speed up processes and handle repetitive tasks, they’re no match for the creativity, accuracy and humanity that health writers bring to the table. 

In healthcare content marketing, where trust, empathy and accuracy are non-negotiables, human writers have the edge.  

Ready to show your clients what makes you indispensable? It’s time to let the world know: human-created health content is here to stay.