Can Editors Survive the Rise of AI?

🎙️ AI is NOT taking your editing job—unless you let it.

In this episode, I’m joined by Erin Servais, a former fiction editor and agency owner who pivoted her entire career after asking ChatGPT to edit a paragraph.

Erin has since trained hundreds of editors in 20+ countries in her signature course, AI for Editors.

She shares:

🤖 How she transitioned from agency work to AI instruction

🤖 The Star Trek-fueled curiosity that led her to AI long before it was cool

🤖 Why vague prompts ruin AI editing—and how to fix them

🤖 Her favorite tools for developmental, line, and copy editing with AI

🤖 Why emotional resistance to AI is valid—and how to move through it

Whether you’re curious or resistant, this episode will shift your mindset and give you concrete tools to future-proof your editing business.

📌 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Erin’s course: aiforeditors.com

Tools discussed: Notebook LM, ChatGPT, Claude, Draftsmith

🔗 Want to end burnout and become an academic editor or coach? Go to AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor

00:00 - AI is powerful but requires knowledgeable human editors.

01:03 - Editors need skills in AI prompting for effective editing.

13:39 - Interest in AI has developed over a long career in editing.

15:30 - Specific prompts lead to better editing results with AI.

16:58 - Editing involves numerous specific, granular tasks.

17:10 - AI tools need clear instructions for better outcomes.

19:07 - Teaching AI prompting can enhance communication skills across contexts.

20:38 - The course design followed AI technology advancements.

22:46 - Courses evolve as functionalities of AI improve.

23:57 - Accept that constant updates in AI tools are challenging.

27:33 - Validate feelings about AI, whether fear or skepticism.

29:43 - AI is not a magic solution; it requires proper use.

30:23 - Companies are realizing AI does not entirely replace human editors.

35:54 - Notebook LM can efficiently handle long documents, excellent for content analysis in editing.

38:58 - Smaller text pieces yield better results in AI editing.

39:18 - Use specific prompts for effective copy editing with AI.

41:37 - Draft Smith improves line editing directly in Microsoft Word.

44:42 - Transparency with clients about AI use is crucial.

45:04 - Explain how AI tools will protect client’s intellectual property.

50:10 - Erin's AI for Editors program is available online.

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