Skilled Writers Won't Become Obsolete in the AI Era, Jenkins Says
Publishers are contractually banning AI-written manuscripts while simultaneously using the technology to generate ideas, suggest titles, and predict commercial performance. The contradiction reveals where AI actually fits in publishing-and where it doesn't.
Jerry B. Jenkins, author of the Left Behind series and founder of the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, argues that writers who understand AI's limits will thrive. "Technology can't write from conviction, from the overflow of the passions of the heart," Jenkins said.
The fear is understandable. AI can generate articles in seconds and entire books in minutes. AI-generated music has topped charts. Writers naturally ask whether they risk obsolescence.
But Jenkins draws a clear distinction between AI as a tool and AI as a replacement. He uses AI at least two dozen times daily for research-uncovering angles, gathering facts, sharpening thinking. Used this way, it makes writers more efficient.
Where AI fails is where writing actually matters. It cannot produce work rooted in conviction or spiritual truth. It cannot hear what writers of faith are called to do: speak into the world with clarity, courage, and purpose.
The Real Risk Isn't Replacement
The actual danger, Jenkins argues, is that writers will begin imitating AI-producing safe, predictable, surface-level work that lacks depth and authority. When that happens, writers lose their voice.
Writing that bears eternal truth "must be personally, individually created. Not by merely tapping some keys, but through the grueling process of digging into your soul for the perfect sentence, the perfect word, the perfect lived experience."
Jenkins's guild reports that over 80 percent of Americans believe they have a book in them. His answer to whether publication remains viable in the AI era is direct: yes, if writers do the work AI cannot.
How to Use AI Without Becoming It
Writers should use AI for research and fact-gathering. They should never let it write for them. The painful process of writing is not an obstacle to avoid-it's what conveys truth and distinguishes human work from generated text.
This matters especially for writers of faith. The mandate is to write what matters: work grounded in Scripture, shaped by genuine conviction, and willing to wrestle with real questions people are asking.
For more on how writers can work with AI effectively, explore resources on AI for Writers and Prompt Engineering to maximize research capabilities without compromising voice.
Jenkins is hosting the Pinnacle Christian Writers Conference at Colorado Christian University April 17-19, 2026, featuring speakers including Anne Graham Lotz, Angela Hunt, and James Scott Bell.
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