Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the modern workplace, streamlining tasks and amplifying productivity in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. But as AI tools become more accessible, employees are finding creative—and sometimes questionable—ways to leverage them for a competitive advantage. From drafting emails to faking coding expertise, workers are using AI to enhance their output, often without anyone noticing. Here are eight ingenious ways AI is being used to "cheat" at work, revealing both the brilliance and the ethical gray zones of this technological shift.
1. Passing Off AI-Written Text as Original Work
AI writing tools like chatbots and content generators have become go-to solutions for drafting reports, emails, and proposals. According to Fast Company, many Gen Z employees use these tools to produce polished documents and submit them as their own work. Atlassian notes that AI can “stimulate the creative process,” but in practice, some workers skip the creative part entirely, letting AI do the heavy lifting while taking full credit.
2. Letting AI Brainstorm and Pitch Ideas
From marketing campaigns to presentation concepts, AI tools are generating ideas that employees pitch as their own. Winsome Marketing reports that marketers increasingly rely on AI for brainstorming, data interpretation, and audience insights. What appears as a spark of genius might just be an algorithm’s clever synthesis of existing trends, repackaged as original thought.
3. Using Chatbots to Fake Professional Empathy
In customer service and management roles, AI is being used to craft empathetic, tactful responses. While MIT Sloan points out that AI can mimic empathy without truly understanding it, employees are using these tools to de-escalate conflicts or respond to clients with a polished tone. The result? Five-star ratings for emotional intelligence that’s entirely automated.
4. Automating Performance Metrics
AI’s ability to handle routine tasks at lightning speed is a game-changer for productivity metrics. McKinsey describes this as the era of the “superagent,” where AI-augmented workers can produce data trails that make them look superhuman. By strategically using AI to complete tasks faster, employees can boost their performance scores, sometimes bending the line between efficiency and deception.
5. Outsourcing Data Analysis to AI Dashboards
Platforms like Tableau allow employees to analyze complex datasets and uncover insights with minimal effort. What once required hours of specialized analysis now takes seconds of well-crafted prompts. Workers present these AI-generated insights as their own, creating the illusion of deep analytical expertise without the legwork.
6. Faking Coding Skills with AI Assistants
AI coding tools are revolutionizing software development by generating code snippets and solving complex problems. While this boosts productivity, it also allows less-experienced developers to appear highly skilled. MIT Sloan research highlights that AI can amplify output for skilled workers, but it can also mask inexperience when used without proper oversight.
7. Delegating Meetings to AI Note-Takers
AI-powered transcription and summarization tools are changing how meetings are managed. These tools can transcribe discussions, generate summaries, and even suggest follow-up actions, allowing employees to seem engaged without fully participating. Winsome Marketing notes that while these tools streamline workflows, they also enable workers to coast through meetings with minimal effort.
8. Reverse-Engineering Performance Reviews
Some employees are using generative AI to craft self-assessments and project summaries tailored to past positive feedback. McKinsey’s “superagency” framework suggests that AI can optimize human output through personalized data loops, but this can cross into manipulation. With AI, workers can present themselves as their best selves, effortlessly aligning their narratives with what managers want to hear.
The rise of AI in the workplace is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it empowers employees to achieve more in less time, driving efficiency and innovation. On the other, it raises ethical questions about authenticity and accountability. As AI continues to blur the lines between human effort and algorithmic assistance, companies and workers alike must navigate this new landscape carefully. The question isn’t just how to use AI—it’s how to use it responsibly.