Anthropic’s stab at an artificial intelligence (AI)-written blog didn’t last long. The Claude Explains blog was quietly shuttered after a few weeks.
Visitors to the blog, which dispensed technical advice around Claude use such as simplifying complex codebases with Claude, have been redirected to Anthropic’s homepage. The blog’s initial posts were also scrubbed.
In scotching the blog, Anthropic described it as a “pilot” intended to help the company merge customer requests for “tips and tricks” with marketing goals to show off the model’s writing chops.
Several days earlier, things were dramatically different.
When the AI company launched the blog, Anthropic told TechCrunch it would expand to data analysis, creative writing and business oversight by tech experts and editorial teams. In short order, more than two dozen websites were linked to Claude Explains posts, according to search engine optimization tool Ahrefs.
“[Claude Explains is a] demonstration of how human expertise and AI capabilities can work together,” a company spokesperson told TechCrunch earlier this month. “[The blog] is an early example of how teams can use AI to augment their work and provide greater value to their users. Rather than replacing human expertise, we’re showing how AI can amplify what subject matter experts can accomplish.”
Yet is was never clear how much of the writing came from Claude and what was added or rewritten by humans, highlighting general wariness toward AI-produced content and its accuracy. Some critics claimed the blog was a transparent attempt to automate content marketing, and that a slew of similar attempts to convert content through AI models is fast becoming the norm.
The Claude Explains homepage further fed into the confusion. In its description, it said, “Welcome to the small corner of the Anthropic universe where Claude is writing on every topic under the sun” — giving the impression Claude was responsible for all of the blog’s content.
Despite Anthropic’s short-lived attempt at a Claude-powered blog, consumers and content creators should expect several more developments in a race teeming with contenders.
Earlier this year, OpenAI said it had developed a model specializing in creative writing, and Meta Platforms Inc. is looking into an end-to-end AI tool. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently went so far as to predict AI could someday handle “95% of what marketers use agencies, strategists, and creative professionals for today.”
Publishers, meanwhile, have already plunged into AI newswriting tools to reduce editorial costs while boosting productivity. Gannett, the publisher of USA Today, is using AI-generated sports recaps and summaries. Business Insider slashed 21% of its staff this month as it leans more on AI tools. And Bloomberg has added AI-produced summaries at the top of articles.
Even top-tier media operations are increasingly embracing AI. The New York Times is reportedly encouraging staff to use AI to suggest edits and headlines, while the Washington Post is developing an “AI-powered story editor” called Ember, according to one report.
Still, each development seemingly has come with hiccups. Several outlets, including Bloomberg and Business Insider, have been forced to correct AI-generated errors as well as they try to use the technology in the place of humans.
