AI is getting better every day — but EY’s global chief innovation officer told Business Insider there are still signs that reveal an AI-generated response.
Depa leads the Big Four firm’s global AI, data, and innovation strategy, and part of his job involves overseeing how employees integrate AI.
That vantage point has given Depa what he calls a “high sensitivity” for detecting AI-generated work. While he’s all in on the technology and doesn’t have set limits on how often employees should use it, he said AI should be used to amplify human creativity, not replace it. He said there are situations where “it’s too much AI,” and the person hasn’t “infused any of their own original thoughts.”
In that case, “there does become a point of AI becoming a little bit less efficient or effective,” Depa said. The executive added that it’s important to maintain a sense of individuality and style so that everyone doesn’t sound the same.
As companies urge employees to adopt AI, Depa’s comments underscore the fine line employees walk between using the technology as a tool and depending on it too heavily.
Even if workers want their bosses to know they’re keeping up with the latest tech, they may not want them to know just how much they’re relying on it. In a Business Insider survey with 220 respondents, 40% said “yes” or “sometimes” when asked whether they hide or downplay their AI use at work.
Depa said he notices a few signs that point to AI-generated responses, including mistakes. While AI tools have improved significantly, they can still hallucinate. Here are a few other writing- and presentation-specific examples that point to AI, according to Depa:
Signs in writing
When it comes to written communication, Depa said there are a few signals that indicate it was generated by AI with minimal human oversight or input.
One of the most common is neutral and overly formal writing. He added that AI-generated writing may lack personal aspects, emotion, and humor.
The writing may also be too polished, with no shifts in pattern, structure, or flow. He said AI-generated writing tends to be generic or corporate-sounding, sometimes relying too heavily on buzzwords and descriptors.
Another red flag is repetitive language, such as relying on the same phrases or sentence structures to open multiple sentences or paragraphs.
In general, Depa advises his teams to write their own content with the bullets and messaging they want to convey, and then ask an AI tool to refine it. If used correctly, Depa said AI tools can challenge your thinking.
“If you write it yourself first and then ask for the enhancement using AI, I feel like that’s much more productive,” Depa said.
Signs in presentations
In presentations, Depa said an over-reliance on AI results in surface-level insights that lack specific examples. Another giveaway is when topics are addressed too broadly, with little consideration for the audience.
He also flagged “hedging,” which he said AI does by design. He said AI often steers away from clear recommendations and presents alternatives.
“Anytime you see vagueness or general statements that don’t really tell you anything, I would often say that’s AI,” Depa said.
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