Are writers and designers becoming obsolete?

Short answer: I think so.

But we can change that.

Today, tech innovations and advances in AI and machine learning are making their way into every industry.

People are 1 or 2 Google searches away from finding free generators for logo and design, copywriting and SEO, and even multimedia like AI-powered photo and video editing software, website builders and metadata generators.

I’m a writer myself, and here I am using Grammarly as I write this article.

Automation is perceived as a disruptive innovation for many people in the advertising and marketing industry. Disruptive innovation is terrible for anyone working in the old industries or using older methods to do the job, but it’s great for everyone else - for example:

When automatic elevators were invented, elevator operators lost their jobs.

When automatic switchboards were invented, switchboard operators lost their jobs.

And once self-driving trucks are widely legalised, truck drivers may lose their jobs.

Following those examples, it’s a fair deduction that automation changes industries and kills jobs.

But is that the whole truth? Are these real examples of disruptive innovation? I certainly don’t think so, and here’s why:

Let’s imagine I invent a teleportation device today, capable of teleporting anything from small inanimate objects like a watch or a piece of paper to bio-matter like people and animals or even bulk goods like iron ore or coal.

This technology would need to be scalable, mass-produced, and affordable so that everyone would be able to use it.

This tech would completely obliterate the need for industries like auto manufacturing, shipping, aviation, travel and hospitality (hotels/motels, possibly Airbnb because everyone could just sleep at home), as well as borders, airports, customs and immigration, and many others.

You could get out of bed in South Africa, work in New York, go for lunch in Paris, and go clubbing in Bangkok all in a day. Your only roadblock would be the time zones.

As great and/or terrifying as this may sound for some, it’s just not feasible.

True disruptive innovation cannot happen overnight or in a few months. New technology always starts out very expensive, making its widespread integration slow. Thus giving people years or even decades to prepare, learn, upskill, re-skill and adapt to the change.

Automation in the advertising and marketing industry is no different. The way I see it, it’s a tool to streamline and improve our daily tasks - for now.