From documents to smart data. How digitalization and AI are transforming the role of technical communicators

Not long ago, the role of technical communicators was clearly defined: they created structured texts, explained complex topics, and delivered final documents at the end of development. Today, the picture looks very different. Digitalization, connected products, and artificial intelligence have rewritten the rules. Content is no longer limited to static documents but lives in dynamic information spaces that adapt to context, audience, and system. AI chatbots generate texts in multiple languages and for diverse audiences, while also taking over routine tasks. With interfaces and cloud-based systems on the rise, many activities that once required manual effort can now be fully automated.