AI in the Workforce

Effective use of AI in the Workforce

Have you ever felt that AI is creating more work rather than saving time?

Many organisations adopting AI tools are encountering what some people have started calling “workslop.” This describes large volumes of low value outputs that still require extensive checking and editing.

Instead of streamlining workflows, AI can sometimes create an additional layer of tasks.

In this article, I explore why some organisations feel overwhelmed by AI outputs and how researchers and evaluators can identify where AI genuinely adds value.

Why Workslop Happens

This often happens when AI tools are introduced without a clear purpose.

People experiment with them across many tasks but without evaluating whether they actually improve quality or efficiency.

The result can be a sense of being busier without being more effective.

Using AI Strategically

A more productive approach is to use AI selectively.

In research and evaluation work, AI can add value in areas such as:

• summarising literature

• structuring datasets

• organising information

• drafting early outlines

These tasks involve repetitive cognitive effort and can benefit from automation.

More complex activities such as interpretation, judgement and stakeholder engagement still rely heavily on human expertise.

The Invisible AI Workforce

Another interesting trend is the rise of what some people call the “invisible AI workforce.”

Across sectors, individuals are quietly integrating AI tools into their daily work to manage workload pressures.

Teachers, nurses, librarians and researchers are experimenting with AI in ways that may not always be formally documented.

This bottom-up adoption means organisations sometimes underestimate how widely AI is already being used.

Thinking About AI in Your Organisation

If your organisation is beginning to explore AI but you are unsure how it should be used in practice, you can book a call to discuss your team’s needs.

Takeaway: AI is most effective when organisations decide carefully where it adds value.

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