Is Using AI for Content Creation Cheating? (And How I Save 10+ Hours Every Month!)

“If I use AI to write content, isn’t that… cheating?”

This question came from a 20+-year veteran copywriter while I was sharing how AI had transformed my content creation process.

Her concern wasn’t about quality but whether using AI made her a “bad” or “lazy” writer who can’t be bothered to write from scratch.

I get it. As a fellow Gen Xer, I’m programmed to believe that anything worth doing requires struggle. We’re wired to be suspicious of shortcuts and expect to do things “the hard way.”

How did I quiet my inner stubborn Gen Xer? When I shifted from asking “Is this cheating?” to “How can I improve my writing process?” everything transformed.

AI hasn’t replaced my SEO writing — it’s elevated it. I’m now faster, sharper, and more prolific. And the best part? It saves me a minimum of three hours every week, often more.

Here’s precisely how AI tools save me 10+ hours monthly.

Before AI, my content creation cycle looked like this:

• Brainstorming topics: 45-60 minutes.
• Creating an outline: 30-45 minutes.
• Writing the first draft: 120-180 minutes
• Editing and refinement: 90 minutes. More if I get into “tweaking” mode
• Repurposing for social media: 45-60 minutes per platform. Maybe. If I did it.

That’s 5.5+ hours per piece of content!

Sure, some long-form posts would naturally take a lot of time. But it was taking that much time to create average posts.

Now, with AI assistance, here’s my new process:

1. Smarter Brainstorming (45 minutes → 10 minutes): Instead of writer’s block, I prompt AI with industry trends and audience questions to generate ideas. Perplexity is excellent for this. I recently created a month’s content calendar in under 30 minutes, which previously took an entire, highly caffeinated afternoon.

2. Accelerated First Drafts (2 hours → 30 minutes): AI helps create structured drafts that I enhance with my expertise, stories, and voice. What used to take my entire morning + the next day now happens before my second coffee is done.

3. Precision Editing (90 minutes → 20 minutes): AI identifies weak transitions, repetitive phrases, and areas that need clarification. I still send everything to my fantastic editor. (Thank you, Amy!) I love Grammarly, but it doesn’t replace snarky editing comments (which I love!)

4. Effortless Content Repurposing (45 minutes per platform → 45 minutes total): I created a custom GPT trained on my writing style that transforms blog posts into platform-specific content. Even my husband couldn’t distinguish between my AI-assisted LinkedIn posts and the ones I wrote entirely myself.

For example, this post will transform into:

• 2-3 LinkedIn posts
• A blurb in my LinkedIn Well Branded Woman newsletter
• A blurb in my Copywriting with Robots newsletter
• Multiple Bluesky posts.

All in under 45 minutes, rather than the 3+ hours it would have taken manually.

The big AI downside (that nobody talks about)

Ironically, AI’s efficiency created an unexpected problem: content overwhelm.

With the creation barriers removed, I started more projects than I could finish, ending up with dozens of half-completed drafts and a scattered strategy. AI messes with my ADHD, making me want to do ALL THE THINGS RIGHT NOW.

That…doesn’t work.

Here’s how I’ve restructured my approach:

1. Setting strict priorities: I limit myself to completing 1-2 AI-assisted pieces before starting anything new, preventing the “shiny object syndrome” of endless ideation.

2. Implementing structured batching: My new schedule includes:

• Monday: Turn blog posts into social posts and schedule.
• Tuesday: Brainstorm new blog post, outline, and first draft.
• Wednesday: Make major post edits and write the newsletter. My writing brain can normally only work a couple of hours on Wednesdays, so I get admin done on this day, too.
• Thursday: Revise newsletter and edit post.

I’m still playing and tweaking, but this feels the most efficient.

3. Creating reusable training resources: I’ve built a library of brand voice guides, audience profiles, and writing samples that I can instantly provide to AI tools. This prevents repetitive setup and maintains consistency across platforms.

Using AI for copywriting isn’t cheating — it’s a competitive necessity.

Let’s be honest: I had to overcome my initial Gen X guilt about “taking the easy way out.” But I eventually asked myself: What’s wrong with efficiency if it improves the final product?

Consider these parallels:

• Designers use Photoshop instead of physical cut-and-paste techniques.
• Photographers use digital editing rather than darkroom chemicals.
• Most writers already use Grammarly, which is AI-powered.

None of these professionals are considered cheaters. They’re seen as smart practitioners who use the best available tools.

The real risk isn’t using AI — it’s using it lazily. You could undoubtedly generate generic, expertise-free content without refinement. But true creators know better.

AI-empowered creatives understand that technology amplifies their unique voice rather than replacing it. It frees us to focus on what humans do best — storytelling, emotional connection, and nuanced expertise — while handling the mechanical aspects of creation.

With AI handling the heavy lifting, I spend more time perfecting the one sentence that ties everything together or finding the perfect analogy to make a concept click.

What happened with the skeptical copywriter?

I’m so glad you asked.

While we chatted, I could see her brain going from “Why would I ever use ChatGPT?” to “Wait, I didn’t know it could do THAT!”

She was able to break through the “cheating” mindset and see how she could do more in less time.

After seeing my practical AI workflow in action, she couldn’t wait to join my Writing + Robots SEO/AI Community, where I teach entrepreneurs and writers how to use AI strategically while preserving their unique expertise and voice.

Pretty cool, right?

I’m using AI as my creative accelerator, not my replacement. Where do you stand? Leave a comment below. 👇

Want to learn my exact AI content creation systems? Check out the Writing + Robots community, where I share actionable tips on how AI can give you your time back.