AI and UX Writing: A year with the machine that won’t replace me

I’ve been using AI tools in my work as a UX Writer for over a year now. Not out of necessity, but out of curiosity (and, admittedly, a little fear). I wanted to understand the hype — all the promises, the headlines, the talk of us being replaceable.

And let me tell you… we’re not! At least, not in the way it’s often portrayed.

What Can AI Actually Do for a UX Writer?

Yes, AI can be helpful. Over the past year, I’ve used it for:

• Quick brainstorming

• Polishing up emails

• Rephrasing ideas I already had

• Summarizing documents or concepts

• And — more often than not — telling me that my ideas are “great”

And that’s fine. Sometimes it’s even convenient. But after a year of consistent, intentional use, I’ve come to a clear conclusion: AI makes a decent assistant, but not a writer.

Where AI Falls Short

I’ve tried it all — carefully crafted prompts, uploading documents for context, explaining tone, audience, purpose, brand voice. I’ve taken courses, workshops, spent hours experimenting. And still, AI struggles to go beyond surface-level content.

I’ve pushed it to its limits. Literally — to the point where it had nothing more to offer or started generating vague, generic suggestions. More often than not, I’d spend 30 minutes giving it detailed instructions, only to realize I could have written something sharper and more relevant myself — in half the time.

The most frustrating part? When I question its output, it just agrees with me and gives a new answer… without real reasoning. No logic. No confidence. Just polite improvisation.

Will AI Replace Us?

No. At least not those of us who think deeply, design intentionally, and understand the why behind every word.

AI doesn’t understand the user, doesn’t feel responsible for the outcome, and has no instinct for when something “just works” — especially in a microcopy that lives inside a larger experience.

It might help you break through writer’s block or offer a few rough ideas. But it’s far from capable of doing the nuanced, thoughtful, empathetic writing that UX work requires.

Final Thoughts

This past year has taught me a lot. Not just about AI, but about my own craft. And in a strange way, it’s made me feel more secure in what I do.

AI won’t write better than me — because it doesn’t know who it’s writing for.

I’m not worried about being replaced. I’m more concerned about us believing we can be replaced.