Is AI Creating ‘Workslop’?

An article from Harvard Business Review recently caught my eye. The article centered around this idea that generative AI tools are flooding workplaces with superficially polished but ultimately shallow output which they have dubbed as ‘workslop’.

The claim is a provocative one. Instead of liberating workers, AI may be, in some cases, creating more busy-work for employers and actually undermining real productivity (not to mention eroding at trust between employer and employee when being used to generate this so-called slop).

But is that the full story? A closer look at recent data suggests that the answer is…well, it depends.

The Case for Workslop

In a survey of 1000 workers, 40 % reported receiving AI-generated content that looked tidy yet lacked meaningful substance in the last month. This led to roughly two hours of additional work to correct or redo this ‘workslop’. When translating this wasted time into monetary value, this extra effort equated to $186 per month per employee. So the bigger the business, the more of a financial impact workslop can have.

In addition to this, there is a study of software developers where the use of AI tools resulted in a 19 % slower completion time compared with non-AI use, suggesting that in some contexts AI may actually hinder rather than help.

Taken together, these findings paint a picture of AI-tools being deployed hastily and subsequently generating workslop rather than actual gains.

The Case for Genuine Productivity Gains

On the other hand, there is also data that suggests that when thoughtfully implemented, AI can indeed boost productivity. For example, a recent report from McKinsey sizes the long-term AI opportunity at $4.4 trillion in added productivity growth potential from corporate use cases. But this same report recognizes that whilst the projections for AI are to boost productivity in the long-term, it is the short-term that remains uncertain as many companies may not be at the right stage of maturity for full AI-integration. From this perspective, it’s not the AI tools that are the problem but rather how they are being used and whether they are being used prematurely.

On top of this, a survey by PwC indicates that industries which are most exposed to AI saw revenue per employee grow at 27 % compared to 9 % in those least exposed.

And when looking at the time-saving front, a survey of US workers found that among those who used generative AI at least once in the prior week, the average time saved was about 5.4% of their hours, which translated to roughly 2.2 hours in a 40-hour week.

The takeaway from all of this is that there is potential for AI to create real efficiency and value, despite claims of doing the opposite.

So, What’s the Verdict?

The evidence is seemingly conflicting, which suggests that the answer to whether or not AI is creating ‘workslop’ is more nuanced than simply yes or no. Yes, AI can create workslop, but it can also deliver meaningful productivity gains when used correctly. The key difference lies in how the technology is deployed and integrated.

Rather than viewing AI as either a savior or saboteur, the current evidence supports a more balanced view. When used thoughtfully, AI offers a substantial upside, but when mis-managed, it can degrade overall work quality. The concept of workslop serves as a timely reminder to leaders to invest in redesigning workflows, building AI literacy, and aligning AI-generated content with human judgment and purpose.

If you would like to discuss how we can help ensure that the AI tools your company is investing in are right for you, as well as how to get the most productivity out of them and avoid the looming workslop, please get in touch with us today.