A Reddit user shared that his girlfriend, a marketing professional, faced a major work crisis after presenting ChatGPT-generated data as official client analysis.
As AI tools like ChatGPT become more common in the workplace, many professionals are using them to simplify tasks. But a recent Reddit post underscores the risks of relying too heavily on AI for critical work.
The user explained that his girlfriend initially used ChatGPT to draft survey questions, but later depended on it to analyze survey responses. She uploaded Excel files, downloaded AI-generated outputs, and incorporated them into her official report. The problem arose when she submitted a PowerPoint presentation that included results calculated using “Pearson’s correlation coefficient.”
The survey, however, contained text-based responses sorted into five “feeling” categories, which were not suitable for such statistical analysis. While ChatGPT attempted to convert the responses into numbers, it could not explain its methodology or show the calculations, resulting in technically flawed results being shared with the client.
Seeking advice, the Reddit user asked the community, “What can we do to save her job?” Responses varied—from suggesting a cover-up or claiming the data was mistakenly included, to advising honesty: “Admit the truth, face the consequences, and learn that ChatGPT can make mistakes. Always verify important information.”
Experts caution that while AI can assist with drafting and brainstorming, unverified reliance on it can lead to errors, miscalculations, or even fabricated results. This episode highlights the importance of human oversight and fact-checking when integrating AI into professional workflows.
