Researchers from BetterUp Labs and Stanford Social Media Lab have introduced a new term, “workslop,” to describe low-quality AI-generated work.
Described in a recent Harvard Business Review article, workslop refers to AI-generated work content that appears to be high-quality but lacks the depth needed to move a task forward effectively.
Experts at BetterUp Labs believe that workslop may be a significant factor behind the lack of returns seen by 95% of organizations that have implemented AI technologies. This type of work can be unhelpful, incomplete, or lacking essential context, leading to additional work for others.
Furthermore, workslop shifts the burden of work onto the recipient, who must then interpret, correct, or redo the work, creating inefficiencies in the process.
A survey conducted by the researchers among 1,150 full-time U.S.-based employees revealed that 40% of respondents had encountered workslop within the past month.
To combat workslop in the workplace, leaders are advised to demonstrate thoughtful AI use with clear purpose and intention. Establishing clear guidelines and boundaries for AI usage within teams can help prevent the spread of workslop.
