AI isn’t the problem. Your writing might be.

Companies are increasingly hiring prompt engineers, but I’d argue the real problem with this hiring need goes deeper because of poor writing skills across organizations.

Yes, prompt engineers can get excellent AI output. But let’s not ignore the obvious that most workplace writing is subpar because of which the AI output of most people is also subpar.

Here’s why I believe we must prioritize writing skills.

Words matter

"Garbage in, garbage out" isn’t just an AI problem but a communication one.

Human context matters  

AI mimics language, but not empathy, audience awareness, and human understanding. Skilled writers bring that to the table.

Lost opportunities are real  

Good ideas can get lost in bad writing. But good writing can literally get better output from AI.

I learned this the hard way. Weak writing on my part meant AI couldn’t give me what I needed. It was a wake-up call. AI can assist but it can’t fix broken communication.