Recent findings indicate that many employees are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to produce what is being termed “workslop,” leading to decreased productivity and heightened distrust in the workplace. A study from Stanford’s Social Media Lab and BetterUp Labs reveals that 40 percent of United States workers have encountered AI-generated content that lacks actionable information, costing about $186 per employee each month in lost productivity. The study also highlights a growing perception of untrustworthiness among colleagues, with 42 percent of respondents stating they trust coworkers less after receiving such content. Both management and staff are contributing to this trend, with 18 percent of workslop sent directly to managers, further complicating communication and decision-making processes.
A recent European Trade Union Confederation report warns that algorithmic management is increasingly transforming workplaces, leading to a troubling loss of worker autonomy and privacy. The report reveals that 79 percent of job sites in the European Union and 90 percent in the United States already employ some form of algorithmic oversight. Titled “Negotiating the Algorithm,” the 70-page document identifies seven significant risks associated with this technology, including discriminatory work assignments and constant surveillance. Workers face opaque evaluations and algorithmically determined penalties, sometimes losing their jobs without human interaction. The report also highlights successful strategies from European workers to combat these issues, emphasizing the need for transparency and better data sharing from employers to protect workers’ rights.
A recent study reveals that 43 percent of workers have shared sensitive information, such as financial and client data, with artificial intelligence tools. Conducted by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and cybersecurity software company CybNet, the survey of over 6,500 individuals across seven countries found that while 65 percent of respondents now use AI in their daily lives, 58 percent received no training on the data security risks associated with these tools. Lisa Plaggemier, Executive Director at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, emphasized that the rapid adoption of AI is outpacing efforts to educate users about its potential dangers.
Why do we care?
AI isn’t just making bad content; it’s making workslop. Stuff that looks like work but does nothing. Forty percent of workers say they’ve seen it, and it’s costing companies real money. On top of that, algorithmic management is creeping in, quietly deciding who works when, or even who gets fired—often without human oversight. And while that’s happening, almost half of workers are feeding sensitive data into AI tools without any training. This is a governance disaster. For MSPs, the takeaway is simple: don’t just sell AI tools. Help customers keep them under control. Train staff, set guardrails, and focus on outcomes. Otherwise, AI won’t boost productivity—it’ll just create more slop.
Here’s the playbook: set up AI usage policies so staff know what’s acceptable, deliver basic security training around what data can and can’t go into AI, monitor which AI tools are in use, and add quality checks so AI output is reviewed before it’s acted on. These steps aren’t flashy, but they prevent the slop problem—and make you the partner who helps customers actually get value from AI.