When AI Slop Needs a Human Polish

Title: When AI Slop Needs a Human Polish

Content: Far from making creatives obsolete, generative AI has created a whole new gig economy: fixing its mistakes.

What happens when the robots write the script, draw the picture, and build the app badly? You hire a human to clean up the mess. Across Asia and beyond, a new class of freelancers is cashing in on what might be the least glamorous job in tech: making AI-generated content look less robotic.

Freelancers are increasingly being hired to correct or enhance AI generated content,Generative AI rarely produces publish-ready results without human input,While the work pays less, it's emerging as a new economic niche

The Rise of the AI Fixer Gig

The promise of AI was supposed to be effortless creativity on demand. But for many professionals across Asia, it’s become more about error correction than automation.

Graphic designers, illustrators, writers and developers are being enlisted not to compete with machines, but to rescue the work they leave behind. Spain-based designer Lisa Carstens spends her days reworking AI generated logos, often plagued by smudged lines and nonsense text. Some are salvageable; others demand a full redesign that takes longer than starting from scratch.

"There are people who come to you angry because they couldn't get AI to do what they wanted," she says. "You have to be empathetic. And then you have to fix it."

"There are people who come to you angry because they couldn't get AI to do what they wanted," she says. "You have to be empathetic. And then you have to fix it."

Editing the Bots' Bad Grammar

Writers are also finding a surprising source of income: clients who want human polish on ChatGPT drafted content. Kiesha Richardson, a Georgia based freelancer, says half of her work now involves rewriting articles that are riddled with robotic phrasing and shallow analysis.

Common complaints include overused em dashes, cliché phrases like "deep dive" or "embark", and a distinct lack of nuance. Richardson says the process often requires more research and rewriting than crafting an article from scratch; but the pay doesn't reflect that effort. You can learn more about how to teach ChatGPT your writing style to mitigate some of these issues.

"I am concerned, because people are using AI to cut costs, and one of those costs is my pay," she says. "But they find out they can't do it without humans."

"I am concerned, because people are using AI to cut costs, and one of those costs is my pay," she says. "But they find out they can't do it without humans."

AI Mistakes Create New Demand for Craft

Rather than replacing humans, generative AI has underscored just how essential the human touch remains. Reports from platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer show growing demand for hybrid skills: professionals who can work with AI, not against it. This aligns with the idea of a "non-machine premium" in the workforce.

Fiverr has seen a 250% surge in demand for specialised illustration and web design services. Freelancer’s CEO Matt Barrie adds that clients increasingly want emotionally intelligent content:

“The fastest way to get dumped is sending your partner a ChatGPT love letter. Brands are learning the same lesson."

“The fastest way to get dumped is sending your partner a ChatGPT love letter. Brands are learning the same lesson."

Art That Actually Feels Human

Illustrator Todd Van Linda, who works with indie authors, says AI art is easy to spot: "plasticine" textures, generic styles and mismatched themes. More importantly, it lacks emotional fidelity. His clients want art that captures the "vibe" of their story, something AI still can’t replicate. This also connects to the discussion around AI Artists are Topping the Charts Weekly.

Van Linda has largely stopped accepting jobs to "fix" AI images. Not only is the work more tedious, but clients often undervalue it. "They're trying to wedge a square peg into a round hole because they don't want to spend more money," he says.

Van Linda has largely stopped accepting jobs to "fix" AI images. Not only is the work more tedious, but clients often undervalue it. "They're trying to wedge a square peg into a round hole because they don't want to spend more money," he says.

The Real Cost of Shoddy AI Code

In India, developer Harsh Kumar has become something of a digital cleaner-upper. His clients turn to him after cheaping out on AI coding tools, only to receive unusable websites or glitchy apps. One chatbot he was asked to repair leaked sensitive system information. Another recommendation engine regularly crashed.

"AI can increase productivity," Kumar says, "but it can't replace humans. We're still the ones fixing the flaws."

"AI can increase productivity," Kumar says, "but it can't replace humans. We're still the ones fixing the flaws."

An Uneasy Truce Between Man and Machine

The inconvenient truth for many firms is this: generative AI needs supervision. According to a recent MIT study, 95% of GenAI pilot projects yield no return on investment. The problem isn’t the infrastructure or talent it’s that most AI tools don’t learn from feedback or adapt meaningfully. A report from Capgemini Research Institute also highlights the challenges in scaling AI, finding that only 13% of organizations have scaled AI solutions across their business[^1].

So companies are turning to the very workforce AI was meant to replace. Ironically, it’s humans who are making AI viable; one botched logo, broken app or dull article at a time. This also speaks to the broader trend of executives treading carefully on generative AI adoption.

Have you ever had to fix an AI-generated project that missed the mark? Or are you one of the creatives finding new life in this AI clean up economy?

[^1]: Capgemini Research Institute: The AI Powered Enterprise