Will AI replace Technical Writers?
AI can do 97% of the work Technical Writers do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 6 of their 15 tasks, while 8 more are ready but barely used so far. 1 still needs a person.
AI is already doing this6 · 56% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.Mostly automated29% of time
- Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.Mostly automated9% of time
- Analyze developments in specific field to determine need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material.Mostly automated5% of time
- Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding.Mostly automated4% of time
- Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.Mostly automated4% of time
- Assist in laying out material for publication.Mostly automated4% of time
AI could do this next8 · 41% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Interview production and engineering personnel and read journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods.9% of time
- Develop or maintain online help documentation.9% of time
- Study drawings, specifications, mockups, and product samples to integrate and delineate technology, operating procedure, and production sequence and detail.7% of time
- Confer with customer representatives, vendors, plant executives, or publisher to establish technical specifications and to determine subject material to be developed for publication.5% of time
- Maintain records and files of work and revisions.4% of time
- Review manufacturer's and trade catalogs, drawings and other data relative to operation, maintenance, and service of equipment.3% of time
- Draw sketches to illustrate specified materials or assembly sequence.3% of time
- Arrange for typing, duplication, and distribution of material.1% of time
Still needs a person1 · 3% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Observe production, developmental, and experimental activities to determine operating procedure and detail.3% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. People in this job already use it heavily. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.
What to do next
- Do the 6 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 8 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Build on the 1 task that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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