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You open slides you got from a teammate for a joint project presentation you're giving. Within minutes you suspect that it's largely AI-generated. The stats are incorrect and the writing is littered with generic phrases that sound plausible at a glance but, upon inspection, say nothing of substance.
AI was supposed to make work faster and easier, and sometimes it does. Eighty-five percent of surveyed workers, all of whom were active AI users, said the technology saved them between one and seven hours per week, according to a Workday study of 3,200 full-time employees published in January.
But as the author of "Managing Up" and an executive coach to high performers at companies like Google, Amazon and JPMorgan, I've seen a new problem emerge. You may regularly find yourself on the receiving end of what looks like finished work that still needs hours of editing. The Workday survey found that nearly 40% of the time "saved" from using AI was then lost to "rework" like verifying, correcting and rewriting.
Calling that extra work out to your colleagues and bosses can feel awkward. You might use AI too; 40.5% of employed U.S. adults ages 18 to 64 reported using AI for work in Q3 2026, according to data from the Real-Time Population Survey. So you don't want to sound hypocritical. Plus, you can't always be 100% sure someone used AI, even if it seems obvious to you.
So how do you address the extra work landing on your plate without the conversation becoming confrontational?
Begin by showing that you're not trying to embarrass anyone or prove them wrong. You're on the same side.
Frame your feedback in terms of working toward an outcome that preserves the quality of the work and the team's reputation. That way, your intentions are clear, which makes the discussion less adversarial from the outset.
Avoid saying, "this whole thing looks AI-generated," especially if you can't prove that. A blanket accusation takes the focus off of what needs to change and puts the other person on the defensive.
Instead, point to concrete issues such as vague wording, missing context, hallucinated examples or off-brand visuals.
This is particularly important when speaking with your boss or someone senior, since you don't want to suggest that you're judging their choices.
It can help to acknowledge if you use AI too, which makes it clear that the extra work and the impression the report or presentation could make are the problems, not the tool itself.
Be specific about how much time it's already required or will involve to clean up the work and whether it's taken away from other priorities. The other person may not realize the cost unless you explicitly say it.
Depending on the relationship, you might ask them to review AI-generated content before sending it over, limit when AI is used or simply flag it up front so you can plan accordingly.
Remember, your colleagues and leaders are trying to work faster and keep up with ever-growing demands, just like you are. When you push back without shaming them, you show that you respect their intentions while still protecting your time.
Melody Wilding, LMSW is an executive coach, human behavior professor and author of "Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge." Get her free training, 5 Steps to Speak Like a Senior Leader, here.
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