TL;DR
- Businesses rushing to adopt AI for content creation are facing unexpected pitfalls.
- Human professionals, like Sarah Skidd, increasingly find work in correcting AI-generated outputs.
- Errors from AI can lead to significant additional costs for companies.
- Experts emphasize the need for human oversight in AI processes.
Rising Reliance on AI Comes with Hidden Costs
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries, many businesses are eagerly adopting these technologies in hopes of cutting costs and improving efficiency. However, recent reports reveal that these quick shifts often come with unforeseen consequences, forcing companies to hire skilled professionals to rectify the mistakes made by AI systems.
"It wasn't interesting… it was very vanilla," remarked Sarah Skidd, a product marketing manager based in Arizona, who was hired by a content agency to revise AI-generated text. What was initially intended to be a quick and inexpensive solution turned into an unexpected time-consuming task, prompting Skidd to charge upwards of $2,000 to rework the content that failed to engage or sell.
Human Oversight Needed for AI Production
Businesses increasingly turn to AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini to augment their operations. Reports indicate that over a third (35%) of small businesses plan to expand their AI usage within two years, especially those aiming for rapid sales growth[^1]. However, rushing into AI without adequate planning often leads to low-quality outputs that necessitate substantial human intervention.
Sophie Warner, co-owner of a digital marketing agency in the UK, has also seen a significant rise in businesses seeking her expertise to recover from the problems arising from AI-generated content. “Now they are going to ChatGPT first,” she said, noting that clients would rather ask AI for solutions than consulting professionals upfront. This shift has sometimes resulted in disastrous outcomes like website crashes, leading to substantial financial losses – one case cost a client around £360 (approximately $450) and three days of downtime because of poorly implemented code suggested by AI[^2].
Expertise in Demand
The trend of hiring professionals to fix AI-related errors is creating a unique niche in the job market. Many writers and coders are now focusing primarily on correcting low-quality content produced by AI. This market evolution reflects a broader recognition that, while AI can assist with certain tasks, it lacks the nuanced understanding that human professionals bring to the table.
Experts also emphasize that AI is not a panacea. Prof. Feng Li, an academic at Bayes Business School, noted that AI often generates irrelevant or inconsistent content, necessitating human oversight even in automated processes. “Human oversight is essential,” he insists, underlining that avoiding significant liabilities often requires professionals to manage AI outputs[^3].
Conclusion
As the AI landscape evolves, companies must navigate the delicate balance between cost-saving technologies and the quality of output. The experiences of individuals like Sarah Skidd and Sophie Warner demonstrate that while AI can be a powerful tool, it cannot entirely replace the indispensable value of human expertise. Ultimately, businesses must recognize that initial savings from AI may be outweighed by the costs of fixing its shortcomings.
References
[^1]: "I'm being paid to fix issues caused by AI". BBC News. (2025-07-03). Retrieved October 5, 2023. [^2]: "Companies That Tried to Save Money With AI Are Now Spending a Fortune Hiring People to Fix Its Mistakes". Futurism. (2025-07-06). Retrieved October 5, 2023. [^3]: "I'm being paid to fix issues caused by AI". BBC News. (2025-07-03). Retrieved October 5, 2023.
Metadata:
- AI
- Content Creation
- Human Oversight
- Digital Marketing
- Business Strategy
