Generative AI is everywhere. AI promises faster results and higher productivity. However, a recent Harvard Business Review article highlights a hidden cost: AI Workslop. This term describes output that looks good on the surface but lacks true substance.
The result? Lost time redoing work and growing frustration across teams. HBR’s research found that 40% of employees have received “workslop” in the past month. What's more? Each instance costs roughly two hours of additional effort. For a 10,000-person organization, that adds up to more than $9 million in wasted productivity annually.
So, if AI can create so much surface-level noise, how do leaders know they’re continuing to invest in what matters: depth, trust, and human connection?
AI is powerful when used intentionally. It can capture trends, process information quickly, and highlight key insights leaders might otherwise miss. But when applied thoughtlessly, it risks producing shallow content.
The same lesson applies in the realm of employee health and well-being. Technology can help monitor risks, track data, and surface potential issues. But it can’t personalize care, understand context, or provide the trust employees feel when speaking with a trained professional.
AI can inform. Only people can connect.
In critical moments, whether at a corporate event, during a workplace health scare, or in times of stress, employees don’t want an algorithm. They want someone they trust: a physician who can respond in real time, a nurse who can provide reassurance, a team that can make decisions with compassion as well as expertise.
Just as “workslop” erodes trust in the workplace, over-reliance on AI in health and safety can erode confidence in an employer’s duty of care. The difference between “looking covered” and being covered is the presence of capable, onsite professionals who understand the nuances of human health.
Leaders don’t need to choose between AI and people. The organizations that achieve the best results will utilize AI as a supplement, not a substitute, for human expertise.
AI can see patterns. It can process health data, identify emerging risks, and highlight productivity trends.
Humans provide meaning. Medical professionals interpret data in context, make judgment calls, and respond with empathy.
Together, they create resilience. AI helps anticipate needs, while human teams deliver the care and collaboration that keep organizations running smoothly.
At IHP, we see this every day. Event organizers can’t predict every health or safety issue, but with onsite clinicians supported by smart tools, they can protect attendees and preserve business continuity. It’s the combination of technology and human connection that drives measurable ROI.
Surface-level solutions may look efficient, but only human-to-human care delivers the depth, trust, and personalization employees need.
The future of work and health isn’t AI versus people — it’s AI plus people, working together to create resilient organizations where employees feel safe, supported, and able to perform at their best.