Tech Leaders Apply Brakes on AI Adoption Amid "Workslop" Concerns
Technology executives who previously championed widespread AI adoption are now expressing caution. New research indicates that AI-generated "workslop" is increasing the burden on employees and potentially harming collaboration.
Technology industry leaders who once promoted artificial intelligence as key to unlocking employee potential are beginning to shift their messaging. Shopify co-founder and CEO Tobias Lütke is among them, now criticizing employees for submitting unchecked AI-generated code and emails without accountability for the results.
Lütke described the issue as "garbage grenades" where employees toss AI outputs to each other without scrutiny. He argued that AI can transfer the burden of review to recipients rather than simplifying work. For instance, instead of summarizing emails, AI might expand them into lengthy texts, requiring colleagues to perform the necessary review.
Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn has also moderated his previous aggressive stance on AI adoption. Despite previously declaring an "AI-first" strategy and tying performance to AI use, he has acknowledged that large-scale implementation revealed AI's limitations compared to human creativity.
A study of 962 full-time US office workers found that 52.7% had sent "workslop"—AI output that appears polished but is practically useless and requires rework—to colleagues. This issue is more prevalent in organizations that strongly encourage AI use. Up to 38% of respondents received such content, averaging 3.4 hours of corrective work per month.