A new term coined by BetterUp Labs and Stanford Social Media Lab is raising red flags in the business world: AI workslop.

Published in the Harvard Business Review, the study defines AI workslop as “AI-generated content that appears professional but lacks the substance to drive meaningful results.”

According to researchers, this growing problem could explain why 95% of companies experimenting with AI report no real ROI. Instead of saving time, workslop often produces incomplete, inaccurate, or context-lacking content, leaving employees to interpret, correct, or completely redo the work.

Employees Already Feeling the Strain

An ongoing survey of 1,150 full-time U.S. employees revealed by Stanford University that 40% received AI workslop at least once in the past month, highlighting how quickly the issue is spreading.

“The danger of AI workslop is that it doesn’t just create bad work—it creates more work,” researchers wrote. “The burden shifts downstream, slowing productivity instead of accelerating it.”

Researchers Call for Clear AI Guidelines

Experts recommend that leaders model thoughtful AI use and set strict guardrails to ensure the technology serves its purpose. Organizations need clear policies, intentional use cases, and training to prevent AI from becoming a productivity drain rather than a booster.

As companies embrace automation, the rise of AI workslop is a reminder that quality control and human oversight remain essential in the age of artificial intelligence.