We came across an interesting NBC News story about how some freelancers are getting hired to polish up what generative AI messes up—proof that human creativity still matters, even in the age of algorithms.
Big Ideas:
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AI often produces messy outputs — Freelance illustrator Lisa Carstens is frequently tasked with cleaning up AI-generated logos riddled with fuzzy lines or garbled text.
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Rewrite gigs aren’t a shortcut — Writer Kiesha Richardson spends much of her work rewriting AI-written copy, removing clichés like “delve” and “deep dive,” and conducting her own research where chatbots fall short.
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AI doesn’t always save money or time — Even though clients expect quick, cheap fixes, sometimes completely reworking the piece is faster and yields better results than fixing the AI version.
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Developers too are patching AI code — Harsh Kumar, a developer, is often called in to fix buggy, insecure AI-generated software—he believes human expertise is vital for long-term success.
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A new gig economy niche emerges — Despite the fear that AI would replace creative jobs, many freelancers now depend on clients’ failures with AI—”slop fixer-uppers” are in demand.
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We might ask: As AI grows more capable, will the demand for “AI slop cleanup” increase or diminish?
What might that mean for creative professionals?
