AI's next wave is here. Writers can't sit this out
"Something Big is Coming" wasn't just a warning about AI. It was a proof-of-concept. Its author openly said he used AI to help write the viral essay - because that's the point. The tools are now strong enough to shape the very messages that spread them.
The post has crossed 60 million views on X. The aim wasn't hype inside tech circles; it was to reach people like his dad, a lawyer nearing retirement, who still hopes the shift won't hit before he clocks out. Writers are in the blast radius. Some roles squeeze through. Others won't.
Why writers should pay attention
He argues there's at least a 20% chance of near-term, society-level disruption. Even at that odds, you plan. Waiting is the costly choice.
His claim isn't isolated. Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, has said up to half of entry-level, white-collar jobs could disappear within one to five years. Elon Musk called AI a "supersonic tsunami," hitting anything that doesn't require physical labor.
Translation for writers: entry-level tasks are first in line. If your offer looks like a checklist an AI can follow, expect price pressure.
What's accelerating the shift
- He says modern AI can already handle much of his technical work after using OpenAI's newly released GPT-5.3-Codex, which OpenAI described as its "first model that was instrumental in creating itself."
- He spent hours with Claude to shape and refine his essay. That collaboration sped up clarity and output - exactly what clients will expect from you, too.
If your last test drive was early ChatGPT, you're judging a different era of tools. This is why he's pushing the wider public to look again.
What this means for your writing business
- Lower-level tasks get automated first: listicles, basic SEO rewrites, product blurbs, surface research, short summaries.
- Defensible value shifts upward: unique angles, credible reporting, strong voice, domain expertise, interviews, data storytelling, and packaging (story structure, hooks, proofs).
- Speed becomes a baseline: clients expect same-day drafts and revisions. The win isn't "fast." It's "fast with taste."
- Proof of thinking matters: show how you source, verify, and reason - not just what you wrote.
Practical moves to make this week
- Ship with an AI-assist workflow: use a model to outline, generate variants, collect counterarguments, then rewrite in your voice. Keep your fingerprints on the final.
- Build reusable prompt libraries: one for briefs, one for outlines, one for research checklists, one for edits (clarity, structure, fact checks, tone). Iterate per client.
- Create a citation habit: every claim gets a source. Add a fact-check pass at the end. Your reputation sits on accuracy.
- Position your offer above "words on page": sell outcomes - strategy, messaging, and proof. Words are the output, not the product.
- Price for thinking, not typing: a flat fee with scope beats per-word. Include research depth, interviews, and rounds.
- State your AI policy: disclose assistance, protect client data, and confirm rights. It signals professionalism.
- Train on toolchains that compound: Research (search + papers), model prompting, revision loops, and QA. Treat speed as table stakes; judgment is the edge.
Reality check on hype (and trust)
The essay sparked pushback for comparing potential impact to COVID. There's also past controversy: in 2024 he promoted an open-source model that didn't meet performance claims and later apologized. For writers, that's the reminder - verify claims, test tools on your work, keep receipts on results.
Who's most at risk - and who's safer (for now)
- Higher risk: junior, template-driven roles; content mills; basic legal and compliance summaries; first-draft research tasks.
- Lower risk (near term): roles requiring interviews, access, taste, or stakes (C-suite comms, investigative features, medical/financial writing), and jobs tied to physical presence (he points to nurses as "probably fine for quite some time").
The impact won't hit every niche at once. But it will crawl up the value chain. Plan for that.
If you only do two things
- Rebuild your pitch: "I write blog posts" becomes "I clarify strategy, source proof, and deliver stories that move decisions - delivered fast."
- Integrate AI without losing your voice: use it to think broader and edit harder, then hone the lines only a human would write.
Further reading
- Anthropic - context on current model capabilities and safety thinking.
- OpenAI blog - model updates and release notes.
Train up fast (writer-friendly resources)
- AI tools for copywriting - curated options to test and compare.
- Courses by job - pick skills that raise your billable value.
Bottom line
He's 26 and admits he's unsettled by where this could go. That honesty is useful. Treat a 20% scenario like a deadline, not a doomscroll.
Test modern tools. Keep your edge where AI still stumbles: taste, truth, and original thinking. If this shift plays out, you'll be glad you built the muscle now.
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