A recent report highlights how the growing use of artificial intelligence in offices is creating what experts call “workslop”—AI-generated work that may appear polished but often contains mistakes, weak reasoning, or lacks substance. Instead of saving time, many employees are spending extra hours correcting AI-created drafts, emails, reports, and content. This has led to frustration among workers who feel that AI is increasing, rather than reducing, their workload.
The article points out a clear divide between executives and employees. While many CEOs believe AI improves efficiency and supports layoffs or reduced staffing, workers on the ground report the opposite experience. Surveys cited in the report show that 92% of executives feel AI boosts productivity, whereas only about 40% of non-managers agree. In many cases, staff members must spend time fixing errors, rewriting unclear outputs, and resolving inconsistencies created by AI tools.
One major consequence is the hidden cost to organizations. A survey of office workers found that employees lose an average of 3.4 hours per month dealing with AI-generated errors. For a company with 10,000 employees, this could translate into an estimated $8.1 million in lost productivity. The issue has been observed across sectors including content creation, software development, and healthcare, where accuracy is especially important.
Overall, the report suggests that AI is not yet the effortless productivity solution many leaders imagine it to be. While it can speed up first drafts and routine tasks, human expertise is still essential for quality control and decision-making. The article raises an important debate about whether AI should assist workers rather than replace them, especially when its errors create delays and workplace tension.
