Workers who depend on artificial intelligence often submit work they cannot explain, according to recent findings. The time saved by AI tools is frequently lost correcting errors or accepting flawed results.
The behavior, labeled “botshitting,” involves employees delivering AI-generated content without reviewing, understanding, or standing behind it. Nearly 70% of AI users admitted to doing this, with the practice most prevalent among frequent AI users, Generation Z, men, and managers.
One day a week spent managing AI tools
A study by AI company Glean revealed digital workers now spend nearly one full workday each week overseeing AI systems. This “botsitting” includes verifying outputs, fixing mistakes, and correcting confident but incorrect answers.
As employees spend more time monitoring AI, their engagement declines. Increased reliance on AI leads to less scrutiny of its outputs. The authors explained that workers first stop fully grasping the results, then stop questioning them, and eventually stop taking responsibility for them.
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This gradual loss of control isn’t sudden. Employees slowly delegate judgment to machines, then stop checking sources or evaluating whether recommendations are logical. The outcome is work that becomes careless, error-prone, or shallow.
Frequent AI users were also more likely to blame the technology for errors. While 28% of all AI users have attributed mistakes to AI, that number rose to 41% among those who use it most often.
The study surveyed 6,000 full-time digital workers in the U.S., U.K., and Australia between December and January. It found that those who spend 40% or more of their time managing AI tools were 73% more likely to be searching for new jobs than their colleagues.
HR adopts AI faster than other fields
Human resources teams use AI more than other departments, with 90% of surveyed HR professionals reporting they utilize the technology. Most applications involve routine tasks like drafting content or handling administrative work.
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However, HR workers are also more likely to say AI influences important decisions about people. About one-third of HR professionals reported AI plays a role in hiring, a practice already facing legal challenges. A lawsuit against HR vendor Workday claims its AI tools automatically rejected candidates based on age and race.
Companies aiming to prevent disengagement focus on defining quality standards rather than increasing AI use. This includes setting clear expectations for AI outputs, integrating human judgment into processes, and ensuring employees remain accountable for the final product.
Without these safeguards, the push for AI adoption could create a workforce exhausted by oversight and disconnected from the quality of its own output.
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