New Term 'Workslop' Highlights AI Content Waste in Workplaces
A new term, 'workslop', has emerged to describe low-quality AI-generated content that's causing a stir in workplaces. Researchers from Harvard Business Review coined the phrase, highlighting a growing issue that's wasting employees' time and costing companies dearly.
Workslop, while appearing polished, lacks substance and creates more work for coworkers. A staggering 40% of desk workers encountered it in the last month, spending an average of 1 hour and 56 minutes dealing with each instance. The emotional toll is significant, with 53% of recipients feeling annoyed and 38% confused, and 50% viewing senders as less capable and reliable.
The estimated cost of workslop incidents is $186 per month, totaling over $9 million a year for large organizations. This is alarming, given that 95% of organizations see no measurable return on investment from AI use, despite companies mandating its implementation to boost productivity.
Researchers suggest managers set guardrails for AI use to avoid workslop. They recommend developing best practices and providing training to employees. For instance, a workshop in Klagenfurt in September 2025 educated participants on protecting themselves from AI-driven fraud. German companies are also increasingly required to provide AI competence training due to the EU AI Act effective from February 2025.
Workslop is a real issue that's costing companies time, money, and employee satisfaction. As AI use in workplaces continues to increase, it's crucial for managers to set guidelines and provide adequate training to mitigate the risks and ensure AI is used effectively and efficiently.
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