Overview

• A survey of 1,150 U.S. desk workers found about 40% received AI-generated content that looked polished but lacked substance in the past month.
• Recipients reported spending an average of 1 hour and 56 minutes fixing each instance, which researchers estimate at roughly $186 per employee per month and about $9 million annually for a 10,000-person company.
• Employees described feeling annoyed, confused, or offended, and roughly half said they viewed senders as less creative, capable, and reliable.
• Workslop is most commonly exchanged between peers and is reported more often in technology and professional services, with respondents saying an average of 15.4% of the work they receive fits this description.
• Researchers link the hidden costs to stalled AI ROI seen in other studies and recommend clear guardrails, training, and a pilot mindset while warning against indiscriminate mandates to use generative AI.