Key Takeaways
- SMBs reportedly spend 26% of an hour of AI use reworking output, according to a new survey from Tech.co.
- Businesses spending more time reworking AI output were more likely to see higher productivity gains overall.
- Humans remain an essential part of the success of today’s AI systems, particularly as issues of quality control and cybersecurity raise concerns.
According to a new survey from Tech.co, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) spend over a quarter of an hour (26%) of their AI use reworking output, including editing and fact-checking.
The businesses spending the most amount of time reworking, however, were more likely to see higher AI-related productivity gains.
These findings reveal the indispensable role humans are currently playing as part of AI systems in enterprises, and they remain critical as cybersecurity and quality control concerns mount.
SMBs Spend 16 Minutes Per Hour Reviewing AI Output
Tech.co’s latest survey shows that for every hour of AI use, SMBs reportedly spend an average of 16 minutes reviewing, editing, or fact-checking AI output.
This amounts to over a quarter (26%) of time within the hour. This suggests that there is a “rework tax” businesses are paying in order to reap the full benefits of AI systems within their enterprises.
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Results are derived from a recent survey of 300 SMB owners and C-suite members.
5 to 25 Minutes of AI Rework Time Is Optimal for Productivity
Our research shows that businesses achieving the highest levels of productivity, saving 11+ hours or more per week, actually dedicated more time to reviewing AI output compared to the least productive groups.
59% of the group with the lowest rework time, less than 5 minutes, reported only 2 hours saved per week.
On the other hand, 20% of the group with a higher productivity saving of 20+ hours per week reportedly spend 25-35 minutes reworking AI output, and 13% spend 25-55 minutes. The highest productivity group were also the most likely to spend 55+ minutes on rework (13%).
Overall, the very existence of this “rework tax” shows AI is yet to be a complete, capable product on its own. In our survey, the businesses that understood this the most, by dedicating the necessary time to refine and adjust AI output, were more likely to see productivity benefits.
A Human in the Loop Is Still Necessary for Productivity Gains
If SMBs want to successfully adopt AI and reap its benefits, using human judgement to rework output is an operational necessity. In its current state, AI systems are unable to produce output that is completely correct and aligned all of the time, meaning that if businesses want to dodge quality control concerns, human reviewers are vital.
Likewise, cybersecurity within AI systems remain a critical concern for modern day SMBs. Alongside general cybersecurity best practice, keeping a human involved ensures systems behave and use data safely, via continuous testing and reviews.
However, businesses should also consider the potential effects of this “rework tax” on employees, who may experience fatigue or frustration if they are always correcting AI systems.
