Introducing the Tech Journalists Leveraging AI for Story Writing and Editing

When tech journalist Alex Heath receives a tip, he sits at his computer and records his thoughts. He’s not talking to a fellow journalist—Heath became independent on Substack last year—he’s communicating with Claude. Utilizing the AI-driven voice-to-text platform Wispr Flow, Heath sends his thoughts to an AI agent, allowing it to generate his initial draft.

Heath met with me last week to demonstrate how he incorporates Anthropic’s Claude Cowork into his journalistic workflow. This AI tool is linked to his Gmail, Google Calendar, Granola AI transcription service, and Notion notes. He has also developed a detailed skill—a custom set of guidelines—to assist Claude in writing in his unique style, which includes the “10 commandments” of writing like Alex Heath. This skill encompasses his prior articles, directions on his preferred newsletter structure, and notes on his voice and writing approach.

Claude Cowork subsequently streamlines the drafting process that used to happen internally for Heath. After the agent completes its first draft, Heath collaborates with it for up to 30 minutes, suggesting edits. It’s quite an engaging process, and he still composes certain sections himself. Yet, Heath claims this workflow frees up hours each week, and he now dedicates 30 to 40 percent less time to writing.

“I’ve always disliked the zero-to-one process of crafting a story … Now, it’s actually somewhat enjoyable,” he shares. “Going independent, I recognized that I need AI to manage the volume.”

Heath is part of a growing group of tech journalists leveraging AI to assist in writing and editing their articles. The AI-driven workflow is particularly appealing for those who have gone freelance, losing important resources such as editors and fact-checkers normally found in a conventional newsroom. Instead of merely instructing ChatGPT to produce articles, independent writers assert they are reconstructing these resources with AI.

This approach raises broader inquiries about the role of human journalists in the future. If individuals are employing AI for writing, editing, and fact-checking—what do humans contribute? A recent study from researchers at Google DeepMind indicates that using AI carelessly can lead to more uniform writing. It may be less creative, lack a unique voice, and adopt a more neutral perspective. To effectively utilize AI, journalists I’ve spoken to emphasize the necessity of understanding why people are paying for their work in the first place. (WIRED’s policy restricts the use of AI for writing or editing).

While some writers build their careers on analysis and narrative style, Heath identifies his value in his capacity to uncover scoops. Claude enables him to devote more time to engaging with sources and delivering information to his subscribers.

Several veteran journalists commented to me that Heath’s workflow resembles a contemporary iteration of a longstanding tradition: the rewrite desk. In the era before laptops and smartphones, reporters in the field would call in their stories to a newsroom, where writers behind desks would rapidly synthesize those details into articles for the next day’s publication. This facilitated some reporters in spending their days reporting and connecting with sources. In a sense, Claude now acts as Heath’s rewrite desk.

“I feel like I’m getting an advantage in a way that’s exhilarating,” Heath admits. “I never pursued this because I enjoyed writing. I’m passionate about reporting, learning new information, maintaining an edge, and sharing insights that will make my audience feel informed months down the line.”

Jasmine Sun, a former product manager at Substack, recently launched her own newsletter focusing on AI and Silicon Valley culture. Last week, she published an article in The Atlantic discussing how post-training diminishes AI models’ writing capabilities by essentially diminishing their creativity. For this reason, Sun refrains from using AI for writing but has found potential in using Claude as an editorial tool.