AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity
hbr.org
Despite a surge in generative AI use across workplaces, most companies are seeing little measurable ROI. One possible reason is because AI tools are being used to produce “workslop”—content that appears polished but lacks real substance, offloading cognitive labor onto coworkers. Research from BetterUp Labs and Stanford found that 41% of workers have encountered such AI-generated output, costing nearly two hours of rework per instance and creating downstream productivity, trust, and collaboration issues. Leaders need to consider how they may be encouraging indiscriminate organizational mandates and offering too little guidance on quality standards. To counteract workslop, leaders should model purposeful AI use, establish clear norms, and encourage a “pilot mindset” that combines high agency with optimism—promoting AI as a collaborative tool, not a shortcut.
  • Lvxferre [he/him]@mander.xyzEnglish
    2·
    2 hours ago

    When the bubble bursts, I swear, HN will be screeching “THOSE PRIMITIVES COULDN’T HANDLE THE FUTURE! THAT’S WHY WE DON’T HAVE NICE THINGS!”. The attitude of some users there towards AI there is disgustingly religious.

    I’ll still keep using chatbots for my neat conjugation / declension tables.

  • blargh513@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    3 hours ago

    At my last job, I used AI to create SO MUCH workslop.

    I mean, my boss wanted a dozen or so slides on what really was one or two slides at most. Nope, arbitrary set of slides to fill with content that needed to be kinda pretty.

    Fed in the small bit of info I had, made the AI puff it out, add in all the moronic work words that make dumb bosses happy. I even used it to create some largely bullshit charts that kind of backed up what little data was needed.

    He fucking ate it up. Bosses love slop, so fucking give it to them. If I hear how I need a “walking deck” one more time I’m going to–GIVE THEM AI SLOP!

    They want garbage, I have a neverending machine that produces it. I just throw some email and docs at it, got slop decks for days.

    • Lvxferre [he/him]@mander.xyzEnglish
      1·
      2 hours ago

      They want garbage, I have a neverending machine that produces it. I just throw some email and docs at it, got slop decks for days.

      They care about things that look productive, not actually productive.