Scott Abel is Content Strategy Evangelist at Heretto, founder of The Content Wrangler, and expert in technical documentation management. He hosts a webinar series, writes for industry pubs, authors books, and speaks at events worldwide.

What Still Matters? Technical Writing Skills That Survive and Thrive in an Agentic AI World

As agentic AI begins to reshape documentation workflows, many technical writers are asking the same question: which of our traditional skills still matter? In this session,

Scott Abel explores the enduring value of the core technical communication skills that go far beyond drafting and editing. From style mastery and information gathering to content reuse, conditional processing, and editorial judgment, he shows why these capabilities remain essential in AI-augmented environments. Rather than positioning AI as a replacement for technical writers, Abel examines how AI can strengthen the work of professionals who know how to structure information, manage complexity, and govern content for accuracy, consistency, and trust.

In this session, you will:

Gain a clearer understanding of the human skills that matter most, how those skills fit into emerging AI-enabled workflows, and why technical writers who can orchestrate knowledge, not just produce text, will continue to deliver strategic value