The Secret to Better Blogging

This Week

Blogging has always been about creativity and connection, but in 2024, AI is changing the game in a big way. In just two years, we've gone from almost no bloggers using AI to an astounding 80% incorporating it into their daily workflow. But is AI really the key to better blogs, or is it just another tool?

This week, we’ll also explore how to measure the real ROI of AI with expert insights from Greg Shove, and discover how airlines use AI for smarter gate management. Plus, catch up on the latest AI news, like Google adding audio to NotebookLM and OpenAI’s advanced voice mode that feels eerily human.

Read on!

How to Improve Your Blog Performance With AI

In just two years, AI has gone from a novelty to a must-have tool for bloggers. 

According to research from Orbit Media's 11th Edition of the Annual Blogger Survey, in 2022, almost no one was using AI in content creation, but that number jumped to 80% in 2024. And AI isn’t just for drafting posts—it’s used in nearly every step of the blogging process.

Here’s how bloggers are putting AI to work:

• Idea Generation: 54% of bloggers use AI to brainstorm ideas (a big leap from 43% last year).

• Headlines: 41% of bloggers now trust AI to help write attention-grabbing headlines.

• Outlining: 40% use AI to create outlines.

• First Drafts: 25% let AI take the first swing at writing their posts, but only 6% trust AI to write entire drafts.

• Edits and Tweaks: 40% use AI to suggest edits, nearly doubling from 22%.

• Visual Content: 12% of bloggers are tapping AI to create visuals—double last year’s 6%.

Clearly, AI is becoming indispensable, with some use cases doubling in popularity in just a year. But does using AI guarantee better results?

Not really.

Bloggers relying on AI for full articles see only slightly better success, and personally, I think that’s one of AI’s weakest use cases. Most bloggers using AI are getting the same results as those who aren’t.

What does help performance? Collaborating with influencers, using images, and investing in long-form articles of 2,000 words. 

You can find the full analysis and survey results at Orbit Media.

Are You Ready for an AI-Native Future?

Imagine a world where your software develops itself, legal contracts negotiate instantly, and customer support runs on autopilot—all powered by AI you can trust. The journey to this AI-native future isn't a distant dream; it's happening right now.

Guy Podjarny, from Tessl explores how companies can embrace AI as a fundamental part of their workflow. He outlines four different stages in this journey, each representing how AI can integrate into existing processes or reimagine them entirely.

1. Assistive AI Tools: These tools enhance productivity by helping with tasks like code suggestions or data search, but they don’t change the overall process.

2. Autonomous AI: This stage refers to trusting AI to perform tasks independently without human intervention, which requires a high level of trust from users. An example of this is customer support bots like Intercom's Fin.

3. Disruptive AI: This involves AI creating new workflows, requiring significant changes in how work is done. For instance, AI tools like Midjourney change how creative tasks are approached and alter the roles and skills needed.

4. AI-Native Future: In the final stage, Podjarny envisions a world where AI completely redefines industries and roles. In this future, AI handles tasks autonomously, allowing for an entirely new way of working, such as AI lawyers negotiating deals or software development without needing to code. This shift requires new skill sets and will disrupt traditional industries.

Podjarny says that embracing AI requires a combination of trust, process adaptation, and forward-thinking leadership to fully unlock its transformative potential.

Read the full blog here.

How to Measure Your AI ROI

“AI might be your secret weapon, but measuring its impact is tricky.”

Greg Shove, CEO of Section, explores the challenge of proving ROI from AI investments. He introduces the “Optimize, Accelerate, Transform” framework, a roadmap to AI success.

While AI can transform businesses, he highlights that the most immediate gains often come from optimizing internal processes, such as boosting productivity and streamlining operations.

The challenge? Quantifying those results.

Here’s how the framework breaks down:

• Optimize: Use AI to make internal processes more efficient.

• Accelerate: Layer AI onto your existing offerings to drive revenue.

• Transform: Develop new, AI-driven business models and products.

Shove zeros in on optimization, pointing out that tools like large language models (LLMs) can have a major impact on productivity. But, he warns that gauging ROI is tough, especially when you rely on subjective measures like employee-reported efficiency.

Shove advises businesses to aim for clear, measurable results through disciplined piloting and workforce training. Whether you use off-the-shelf AI, human-in-the-loop workflows, or fully autonomous agents, measuring ROI can get complex, so it’s key to focus on clear metrics, methodical testing, and ongoing team adaptation.

Read the article at Section. 

Airlines Using AI for Smart Gating

Airlines are stepping up from spreadsheets to AI. Right now, many still rely on manual tools like Excel to manage gate assignments—juggling flight delays, aircraft size, and runway changes hours before a plane lands.

But the future is much smarter.

American Airlines has already rolled out "Smart Gating" powered by machine learning, speeding up gate allocation and cutting taxi times. Lufthansa is looking even further ahead, experimenting with quantum computing to tackle complex gate management problems. These AI tools use real-time data to assign the best gates, taking into account things like delays and congestion, making the whole process much smoother.

For travelers, that means shorter wait times, fewer last-minute changes, better connections, and a lower carbon footprint. Quantum computing could eventually cut transit times by up to 50%, pushing travel into a new era of efficiency.

You can read the full article at BBC.

Quick Hits

Google adds audio and YouTube to NotebookLM for more comprehensive study guides.

OpenAI launches advanced voice mode and it feels like talking to a human.

Microsoft gives Copilot a voice and vision in latest redesign.