The technical writing landscape is evolving rapidly, and AI tools are redefining how we work. Effective use can significantly enhance documentation speed and accuracy while keeping you ahead.
For example, ChatGPT, even in its first iteration, was good at creating the first draft of documentation from technical documents such as MRDs, PRDs, etc. You only needed a detailed prompt—samples from existing documentation, style guide, PRD, and MRD. Technical writers could then take over and build the documentation.
Challenges and Solutions
There are a few challenges. The biggest challenge is data security and privacy.
The solution is to use Enterprise versions of these tools. Amazon solutions, such as Q Business and Bedrock, handle data privacy arguably better while providing more options.
The next challenge is that the final product often differs from the plan. Many features are dropped or added during development, which means the first draft that relied on initial technical documents is incorrect.
The solution would be to send the scrum meeting transcripts and Jira tickets to the AI for creating the first draft. This approach would work, but the token limit per prompt prohibits it.
Google’s NotebookLM could be an interesting solution for this problem. You can create one notebook per product and upload virtually unlimited sources. The response is limited to the provided sources, resulting in zero hallucinations.
Key Takeaways
Every technical writer needs to learn and master AI tools while keeping an eye on new developments. Start with a paid version of ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot. Consider this an investment in your professional growth.
Also, AI can do many things, but you need to be explicit about what you want. In other words, learn to write detailed and good prompts.
Ultimately, AI tools can improve the process, but it still takes humans to capture undocumented information, understand users’ needs, and produce clear, concise documentation. I highly recommend that you read the article by Sachin Shenoy to understand what it takes to become a better writer: https://lnkd.in/duXTCgYk
Have you used tools like NotebookLM, or do you have other suggestions for overcoming token limits?