"Vibe working" becomes the latest office trend, experts call it nonsense

As Business Insider notes, the trend is quickly expanding beyond the IT industry. More companies are looking for employees with titles like «Vibe Growth Manager» or even «Chief Vibe Officer.» In September, Microsoft introduced its own version of vibe working features in Excel and Word. Thanks to built-in agent tools, users can create documents and spreadsheets without deep technical knowledge, while AI helps edit, clarify, and answer questions throughout the process.

The phenomenon has already spread to the content space. Video services Mea and Sora are launching feeds with AI-generated videos, and their creators are called «vibe creators.» Companies are using this term as part of marketing rebranding, trying to make corporate culture «lighter» and more appealing to Generations Y and Z. Some brands conduct regular «vibe checks» for teams, while Smirnoff and Atlassian have even appointed their own «vibe» directors.

Experts, however, warn that real risks lurk behind the trendy term. Ben Armstrong, Executive Director of the MIT Center for Industrial Performance, notes that «everyone has their own understanding of good vibes,» which can lead to confusion and erosion of professional standards. Carnegie Mellon business school professor Emily Dejo believes that vibe working glamorizes labor and may underestimate the complexity of AI interaction: «Vibe without knowledge is an illusion of ease.»

According to Microsoft research, 71% of employers today are willing to hire employees with AI skills even if they have less experience. Yet only one-third of companies provide internal training. Experts warn that amid the skills shortage, vibe working could transform from a new form of productivity into a source of chaotic and useless results—from presentations to marketing strategies.