Analyst firm Forrester predicts that 2026 will be a transformative year for enterprise IT, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence. The company estimates that AI-native cloud solutions could generate $20 billion in revenue, reshaping how businesses operate and invest in technology. Forrester highlights that while the transition will bring significant opportunities, it will also present challenges, such as potential outages and the need for robust governance around AI. In this environment, organizations must adapt their technology infrastructures and embrace AI-driven automation to maintain competitiveness.
Merriam-Webster has announced that its 2025 Word of the Year is “slop,” highlighting the term’s growing significance in contemporary language. The designation reflects evolving usage patterns and social trends, particularly in discussions surrounding artificial intelligence and technology’s impact on communication. The choice of “slop” indicates a shift in how language is perceived, as it increasingly represents a blend of casual speech and digital communication. Merriam-Webster’s decision is informed by extensive analysis of search data and usage trends, emphasizing the term’s relevance in today’s discourse about clarity and precision in language, especially in the context of rapidly advancing technology. This marks a notable moment in linguistics, as language continues to adapt to societal changes and technological advancements.
A recent Gallup poll indicates that 45% of US employees reported using artificial intelligence at work at least a few times a year, a rise from 40% earlier this year. The percentage of those using AI frequently also increased from 19% to 23%. Chatbots and virtual assistants are the most commonly used AI tools, especially among employees in technology, finance, and professional services, although this trend is less pronounced among frontline workers. This growing reliance on AI reflects its increasing integration into workplace practices, as businesses seek to leverage technology for operational efficiency.
Why do we care?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth. AI is everywhere now — and a lot of it is junk.
People are using it more, analysts are forecasting billions, and culturally we’re already inventing words to describe the mess it creates. “Slop” didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s what happens when output scales faster than judgment.
This is where MSPs need to wake up. Your customers don’t need more AI tools. They already have them. What they need is help figuring out which outputs they can trust, which ones need review, and which ones shouldn’t exist at all.
AI-native infrastructure is only valuable if the workflows around it are solid. Otherwise, you’re just generating errors faster.
The real services opportunity here isn’t automation. It’s quality control. The providers who win won’t be the loudest about AI. They’ll be the ones who help customers turn down the noise and actually get value out of it. The common thread across all of this isn’t adoption — it’s liability. Everyone is figuring out where the risk lands when AI gets it wrong.