The top AI tools for Technical Writers today

Summary

Discover the top AI tools revolutionizing technical writing. From Madbot's plugin for MadCap Flare to GPT for Sheets and Docs, these tools integrate generative AI to enhance efficiency and content quality. Microsoft 365's CoPilot, Oxygen AI's Positron Assistant, and Google Duet AI offer embedded AI assistance across various applications, while Document 360 and Notion Wiki provide SEO and readability improvements. These tools are transforming the way technical writers create and optimize content.

Takeaways

• 😲 Generative AI is being integrated into authoring tools to enhance efficiency and content quality for technical writers.
• 🔌 Madbot is an AI plugin for MadCap Flare that allows custom prompts and content analysis for improvement suggestions.
• 📝 GPT for Sheets and Docs is a Chrome extension that embeds AI writing assistance directly into Google Sheets and Google Docs.
• 🤖 Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI feature for Office applications, offering text generation and editing based on user prompts, with a focus on argument strengthening.
• 🚀 Oxygen AI's Positron Assistant is an add-on for Oxygen XML, aiding in document generation and providing translation actions that maintain XML structure.
• 📚 Data topic tools in Oxygen AI allow for digital tasks such as creating topic descriptions and generating index terms.
• 💼 Google Duet AI is available in paid Google Workspace versions, offering AI features for writing and including smart chips for customizable information.
• 📝 Document 360 is a tool for creating knowledge bases with AI features like SEO meta description generation and tag recommendation.
• 📖 Notion Wiki now includes AI to improve documentation clarity, simplicity, and readability.
• 🛠️ Mintlify is a tool for developer documentation that generates docs from codebase content, and more such tools are emerging in the market.
• 📚 The script highlights a range of AI tools available to assist technical writers in creating and enhancing content, which is also covered in an e-learning course on generative AI in technical writing.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of integrating generative AI into authoring tools for technical writers?

The main purpose is to make technical writers more efficient and help them create better content by utilizing the power of AI to suggest improvements and carry out tasks without leaving their authoring application.

What is Madbot and how does it integrate with generative AI?

Madbot is an AI-based plugin for MadCap Flare. It allows users to create and save their own prompts to its ribbon bar, tailoring the bot to specific needs and using Chat GPT to analyze content and suggest improvements.

How does GPT for Sheets and Docs work as a Chrome extension?

GPT for Sheets and Docs is a Chrome extension that functions as an AI writer plugin for Google Sheets and Google Docs, embedding Chat GPT into the document for assistance in writing.

What is Microsoft 365 Copilot and what features does it offer?

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI assistance feature for Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It can generate and edit text based on user prompts and provide rewrite suggestions to strengthen arguments in highlighted texts.

Who is getting first access to Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Microsoft's biggest customers are getting first access to the Microsoft 365 Copilot feature as it is being rolled out.

What is the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant and its capabilities?

The Oxygen AI Positron Assistant is an add-on for the Oxygen XML authoring tool, capable of helping with document generation, change suggestions, and performing translation actions while preserving the XML markup structure.

What languages does the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant support for translation?

The assistant supports translation to and from French, German, Japanese, and English while trying to preserve the XML markup structure.

What are some of the digital writing tasks that Oxygen AI's Data Topic Tools Actions can perform?

Data Topic Tools Actions can perform tasks such as automatically creating short descriptions for topics, summarizing content, generating index terms in the prologue section of a topic, and extracting relevant terms.

What is Google Duet AI and what features does it offer in Google Workspace?

Google Duet AI provides generative AI features in the paid versions of Gmail, Google Docs, Meet, Slides, and Sheets. It helps write content, includes variable placeholder text, and offers smart chips for customization and a proofread suggestion pane for writing concisely and using formal or active voice.

What is Document 360 and what AI features does it offer?

Document 360 is a technical authoring tool for creating self-service knowledge bases or help files. It offers AI features like an SEO meta description generator, a tag recommender, and an article title recommender to assist with content SEO.

How is the Notion Wiki using AI to improve documentation?

The Notion Wiki has built-in AI to help improve the clarity, simplicity, and readability of documentation.

What is an example of a tool for writing developer documentation mentioned in the script?

Mintlify is an example mentioned in the script. It generates documentation by using content in the code base.

What is the overarching theme of the script regarding AI tools for technical writers?

The overarching theme is the increasing integration of generative AI into various tools to assist technical writers in creating more efficient and higher-quality content.