According to recent research by Kaspersky looking into the adoption of generative AI (GenAI) tools in the workplace, 42% of UK workers admitted that they would use help from ChatGPT to refine cover notes and craft more impressive CVs when applying for new job opportunities to help them stand out from the competition.
The research findings, which followed a survey of more than 1,000 full-time employees across the UK, suggest that in an extremely competitive job market, job seekers are recognising the potential of AI to enhance key attributes such as written and communication skills, to make their employment history and abilities appear more attractive to potential employers. The results point towards possible ‘catfishing’ of employers who might find themselves tricked into hiring staff who don’t have the necessary attributes for specific roles.
"AI tools such as ChatGPT are starting to shape both our
professional and personal narratives, with our findings not only underscoring
the adaptability of individuals in adopting new technologies, but also
emphasising the importance of responsible and thoughtful integration of AI in
our daily lives,” explains David Emm, Principal Security Researcher
at Kaspersky. “Job seekers need to be careful when using ChatGPT as,
whilst it could help them land that dream job in the short term, their attempts
to stretch the truth could lead to issues further down the road. As for
employers, be careful not to let a flashy CV or cover note fool you; run checks
and put candidates through their paces at the hiring stage so you aren’t left
disappointed.”
The findings also analysed the use of AI tools in the workplace, with the
majority of respondents (58%) admitting to using ChatGPT at work as a time
saving short-cut, such as for summarising long text or meeting notes.
Similarly, 35% are using it for analysing trends and having patterns examined.
However, when it comes to using the content, 40% stated that they do not verify
its accuracy or reliability before passing it off as their own work. This is in
contrast to a third of respondents (33%) who check the output prior to
utilising it, even though it is copied/pasted verbatim.
Emm added: “Aside from carefully scrutinising potential talent, we urge employers to foster a culture of data protection and awareness, where clear guidelines for the use of ChatGPT, and the sharing of confidential information with any AI bots are formalised and implemented. If ignored, the unverified output that some employers might be claiming as their own could lead to trust and reputational problems down the line”.
A related study by Kaspersky and Inner
Circle, the dating company, earlier this year looking into the use of GenAI for
online dating purposes, found that 37% of singletons would consider using
ChatGPT to enhance their dating profiles, with a view to captivate potential
partners with more compelling content and stand out in the dating pool. This
confirms that innovative AI is now very much being used both personally and
professionally to influence relationships and self-expression, potentially
creating a society of ‘fake’ under qualified people.
Methodology: Using an online questionnaire, Kaspersky sampled 1,000 British
full-time employees to understand their use of ChatGPT at work, to what extent
they are transparent about it and how they handle the output of their searches
in a work context.
