OpenAI’s revolutionary tool, ChatGPT, is reportedly playing a substantial role in assisting employees with managing multiple jobs while remaining undetected by their employers. A recent article published by Vice’s Motherboard features interviews with several workers who reveal their experiences incorporating ChatGPT into their daily work routines.
These workers’ accounts align with the emerging trend of “overemployment,” which gained traction during the pandemic when many individuals took advantage of remote work mandates to secretly engage in secondary employment. This phenomenon particularly affected white-collar professionals seeking to augment their earnings.
To protect his identity, Vice referred to one worker as Ben. Based in Toronto, Ben works in the marketing of financial technology products for various companies. Ben shared with Vice that ChatGPT has significantly enhanced his job performance, allowing him to complete tasks more efficiently and in less time.
Ben disclosed to Vice earlier this year that he successfully secured a second job by leveraging the capabilities of the chatbot to compose his cover letters. He attributed his accomplishment, in part, to the release of GPT-4, an updated version of the underlying AI model supporting ChatGPT. According to Ben, this upgrade further simplified his responsibilities. “That’s the primary reason I obtained my job this year,” Ben candidly admitted. “To be honest, ChatGPT handles around 80% of my workload.”
Additionally, Ben mentioned that he occasionally needs to fine-tune the text generated by the chatbot. Interestingly, he also shared that he cleverly employs the chatbot to compose messages to his manager, instructing it to use lowercase letters to maintain an organic appearance.
The rising prevalence of employees relying on AI tools like ChatGPT to manage their workloads raises significant questions concerning the delineation between human and machine labor. While these tools undoubtedly offer benefits in terms of productivity and time management, they also necessitate ethical considerations and raise concerns regarding job security.
To adapt to this evolving landscape, employers may need to establish guidelines and safeguards that foster transparency and protect the integrity of their operations. Furthermore, ongoing advancements in AI technology necessitate broader discussions on the implications for employment dynamics and the future of work within an increasingly automated world.
