Companies across America are experimenting with generative AI to see if it can make them better, smarter and more productive — with mixed success.

Why it matters: C-suite AI proponents have been pushing a "use it or get left behind" mentality, but it's up to the rank and file to figure out how to actually implement AI in their day-to-day work.

What we're hearing: AI is helping workers offload time-consuming menial tasks, and it's handling some complex work better than humans.

• Jason Rabinowitz, head of content creation at airline retailing firm ATPCO, told Axios that days of translating airline marketing content has been reduced to "about two hours" with AI's help in handling complex workflows and multiple spreadsheets.
• Rabinowitz also described pitting AI-translated materials against human-translated versions in a blind trial — and finding that, so far, the AI-translated versions are "more readable and more accurate."

Reality check: Generative AI models suffer from "hallucinations" — techspeak for making stuff up.

• AI's work needs to be checked, and that process is sometimes more time-consuming than not using AI at all.
• And there remains the perennial concern among workers that generative AI will take people's jobs.

By the numbers: About 1 in 6 U.S. workers say they're using AI to do at least some of their work, per a recent Pew survey, while another 25% say AI could do at least part of their jobs.

• 52% of workers are worried about AI's impact, while 32% say it'll reduce job opportunities.
• Yet 36% say they're optimistic about AI's potential.

The big picture: AI's value comes down to how it's used, says Alexia Cambon, senior director of research at Microsoft.

• There's a "command approach" and "conversation-based approach," which requires critical thinking and is the best way to use AI at work, Cambon says.

The other side: Ed Zitron, CEO of PR agency EZPR and prominent AI skeptic, argues that many corporate leaders are pushing AI despite being too disconnected from their companies' day-to-day work to understand its actual use.

• "What I think we're seeing is the biggest mask-off in corporate history, of bosses that do not know what they're talking about, that do not touch their businesses, shoving ChatGPT and other generative AI into everything because they don't know how anything works," Zitron says.

Chicago was one of the top 10 U.S. metro areas for overall AI job postings in January, with about 650.

Why it matters: Amid lots of consternation about AI taking people's jobs, at least some people are finding new roles working with the emerging technology.

How it works: These estimates come from UMD-LinkUp AI Maps, a collaboration between the University of Maryland, job listings platform LinkUp and Outrigger Group, a consultancy and executive firm.

• The researchers involved are using AI to analyze job postings for roles requiring AI skills.

The bottom line: Chicago has a solid number of AI job offerings, if you're on the hunt.

Gen Z workers are approaching generative AI with a mix of caution and optimism.

Why it matters: Today's young workers are starting their careers during a massive technological revolution.

The big picture: Employers and HR pros say they're willing to take chances on otherwise less-qualified candidates if they have AI experience, Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at entry-level job platform Handshake, tells Axios.

• Gen Z "is likely to be the generation that is going to help teach the rest of the workforce GenAI," Cruzvergara adds. "They're more comfortable with it, they don't mind experimenting with it."
• The share of job descriptions on Handshake mentioning generative AI more than tripled from 2023 to 2024 — but still represented fewer than 1% of listings in April 2024.

Case in point: Avalon Fenster, 23, taught herself how to use AI in her personal and professional life — then wound up showing her older co-workers the lay of the land during internships.

• Fenster now runs a platform called Internship Girl, which uses AI to help provide career resources to about 350,000 young women from more than 100 countries.
• She promotes AI to level the professional playing field, especially for first-generation college students or non-native English speakers.

Threat level: Fenster, now a law student, is concerned about AI's impact on critical thinking skills. She wants companies and schools to provide AI literacy training.

AI's environmental toll is a turnoff for other young people.

• "I personally took a stand to not use AI because of the climate impact," says Katya Danziger, a 25-year-old computer science student and research assistant at Parsons who stopped using AI chatbots about six months ago.

Career impact is also a Gen Z concern.

• In a recent Pew survey, 35% of U.S. workers between 18 and 29 said they think AI will lead to fewer job opportunities.

Yes, but: "Sometimes having a little bit of nervousness around the fact that it might impact your career is not a bad thing," Cruzvergara says.

• "It keeps you on your toes."

Generative AI beginners should know there are some best practices to follow when using bots like ChatGPT.

Why it matters: If you ask nicely, AI can act like a quick and helpful work assistant.

Tips for using AI like a pro:

1. Be specific. Think of AI as that one co-worker who needs ultra-exact instructions. The more precise you can be with your request, the better the outcome.
2. Follow up. If your AI's first output is off the mark, try a follow-up request with instructions for improvement — and again, be specific.
3. Check its work. All AI models suffer from "hallucinations" — making stuff up. Don't trust any AI output without doing spot or fact checks.

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