Is AI making employees dumb? New report reveals consequences of overusing AI tools
Overreliance on artificial intelligence tools is making employees doubt their own skills – to the point of feeling less intelligent because of the technology, according to a new report.
Findings from GoTo's latest poll among 2,500 global employees revealed an emerging consequence from using AI tools without the appropriate guardrails from employers.
According to the report, 39% of employees believe AI is eroding their skills and making them less intelligent, with another 31% saying it made their social skills worse.
These figures are higher for Gen Z employees, with 46% saying AI eroded their intelligence and 37% saying it made their social skills worse.
Personal confidence is also taking a hit, with more than a quarter saying they trust AI more than their own judgment (28%) and that the technology is doing their job better than they can (29%).
"Employees say relying on AI too much is worsening their skills, making them question their value at work, and affecting their professional future," the report read.
"Gen Z team members are more likely to be experiencing these career-shaping consequences, raising concerns about the future readiness and resilience of the talent pipeline."
Overreliance is hurting employees
These consequences are a result of overreliance and pressure to use AI tools without proper guardrails in place, according to the report.
Most respondents said their organisations are already using AI, with 30% saying they can't function without the technology.
Another 60% said they feel pressured to use the technology to boost their productivity.
But these factors also result in what is coined today as "workslop," or AI-generated output that is of poor quality, lacking in context, accuracy, or usefulness.
GoTo's report found that employees are beginning to own up to the fact that they're using AI outputs without adequately checking them.
More than half of employees (55%) admit that they don't consistently review AI output for high-stakes work, while another 43% said they've used AI-generated content despite suspicions that it was low quality or contained errors and fabricated information.
This is creating problems down the line. According to the findings, 59% of employees are now responsible for reviewing AI-generated content created by other workers or direct reports.
Two in three of these "reviewers" said this new responsibility creates more work for them, affecting their credibility, and making them doubtful about the value added by AI tools at work.
What should employers do?
GoTO's findings underscore the need for organisations to make the right investments when implementing AI tools at work.
It advised employers to develop robust policies that keep humans firmly in the loop, as well as invest in the right AI tools and adequate training for the workforce.
Employers should also consider placing more emphasis on role-specific use cases to help employees apply AI tools effectively in their day-to-day work.
"Organisations need to invest in the right enablement, resources, and guardrails to enable their people to bridge that gap – and when they do, the productivity and economic impact could be staggering," said Rich Veldran, CEO of GoTo, in a statement.
"The goal isn't just smart technology; it's a smarter, more empowered workforce."
