- Only 2% of workers say AI-generated content requires no editing
- Workers spend hours each week cleaning up ‘AI jobs’
- AI training should be mandatory and processes should be standardized
Despite perceived productivity benefits, many companies are spending time and money cleaning up “AI jobs,” suggesting the technology generates a lot of unnecessary noise, a new study finds.
Data analysis and visualization (55%), research and fact-finding (52%), detailed reporting (52%), and writing and marketing content (44-46%) are some of the most common areas where AI tools might not be as effective as businesses once hoped.
Although 92% of respondents believe AI improves their overall productivity, only 2% say AI results do not require any revision.
AI is a noisy means to productivity
Three in five (58%) spend more than three hours per week reviewing results, with more than a third (35%) spending more than five hours and 11% spending more than 10 hours each week tidying up generated content.
Zapier’s research adds that AI typically lacks precision, context, or utility even if it appears polished on the surface.
And it’s not just perception that’s down: many have experienced work refusals (28%), security or privacy incidents (27%), customer complaints (25%), and compliance or legal issues (24%).
Zapier’s data points to two potential solutions: First, AI models must continue to be improved to improve the quality of responses. But in the meantime, workers should learn the skills to deal with AI in its current format, not what it should be.
“The companies that get the best results aren’t the ones that avoid AI,” explained Emily Mabie, senior AI automation engineer. “They are the ones who have invested in training, context, and orchestration tools that transform AI from a sloppy experiment into a managed process.”
Nearly all (94%) of trained workers say AI increases productivity, but only 69% of untrained workers agree. As a result, only 1% of trained workers report that their productivity has decreased.
Looking ahead, the report calls for AI training to be mandatory for all workers who deal with it, prioritizing high-risk teams and tasks first. Companies can also help their employees by providing prompt templates and formalizing review processes.
“The solution is not fewer tools, but better infrastructure,” Mabie concluded.
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