Your coworker is tired of AI “workslop” (Lock and Code S06E23)

This week’s Lock and Code episode delves into AI “workslop” and the costs of handing routine tasks to machines. The show notes that in September a study by Stanford University and BetterUp Labs published findings on how AI-produced work affects recipients, who are often less than impressed by work that looks good but lacks substance. The researchers describe workslop as AI generated content that masquerades as good work yet fails to meaningfully advance tasks, appearing in documents, slide decks, emails and code.

They warn that the real problem is not AI use itself but the creation of ill-fitting outputs that still require human input, review and correction downstream. The episode features Dr. Kristina Rapuano of BetterUp Labs, discussing potential lost productivity costs and the sometimes dismal opinions teammates form when receiving this type of work, including the refrain that it takes time away from real work.