The Antidote to AI ‘Workslop’?

AI is fast becoming the new ‘weather chat’. But is it being talked about where it matters most?

3x more UK professionals are using AI compared to 18 months ago, yet most businesses aren’t actively helping them get the most out of it.

57% of UK workers plan to learn new AI skills in the next 6 months, but under 40% feel supported in this goal.

For me, this suggests businesses aren’t adequately addressing AI’s adoption head-on, with a clear usage policy.

The stats support this, with only 43% of UK companies currently having an AI governance policy in place.

Perhaps one reason is that employers and employees still aren’t comfortable talking about how AI is used at work.

This is unsurprising when we consider how AI ‘workslop’ has damaged trust in the tech.

But surely this is part of a learning curve, and one that can be shortened with proper training and guidance.

I’m frank with my clients. Where I use AI, I have the first and last input. AI helps me most with the messy middle, but it never delivers my final product.

If businesses clearly laid out where and when AI can be used effectively by employees (and safely) via a clear usage policy, it would improve things for three reasons:

1. Businesses would understand how they can best use AI to improve their operations.
2. Employees would be able to save time and become more efficient. (Up to an hour a day according to OpenAI.)
3. It would avoid data breaches or workslop resulting from incorrect use.

Surely that’s a win-win-win?

AI is here to stay, and most of us are now embracing that. But a lack of support and unclear guidance are stopping UK professionals from getting the best out of it.

Employers need to take action and lead the conversation for everyone’s benefit.