According to Gartner, 2026
Companies around the world are investing billions in implementing AI. And they expect results. But instead of saving time, they are increasingly facing a new challenge: correcting what AI gets wrong.
This phenomenon has become known as workslop.
What does this mean in practice?
An employee receives an AI-generated report, email or presentation. Formally, the task is complete. But it lacks context, human judgement and an understanding of the real situation. As a result, people spend more time editing the output than they would have spent creating it from scratch.
At the same time, managers can see that AI is being used. AI adoption metrics are rising. But real productivity is falling. And understanding why is often far from easy.
“The workplace has become caught between work that has been automated and work that has been automated into mediocrity.” — Owl Labs, 2026.
Who is under the greatest pressure?
Middle managers.
They are responsible for implementing AI in business processes, delivering team results and meeting leadership expectations. At the same time, they are often expected to do this without clear tools or guidance on how to make AI work effectively.
According to Gallup, managers account for 70% of employee engagement. Yet their own engagement is declining. This means that the most influential layer of an organisation is also the one experiencing the highest level of burnout.
Where is the solution?
Gartner reports that teams which redesign the way they work together with AI are twice as likely to achieve their business goals.
The key word is redesign.
This is now a management capability.
And this is where the main question arises: how do you teach a team to work with AI strategically rather than simply using it as a tool for generating text?
The answer lies in developing management competencies. Understanding processes, applying critical thinking and making decisions where AI still falls short.
These are exactly the competencies developed through ACPM programmes—using practical tools, real-life business situations and up-to-date knowledge that can be applied from the very next working day.
Source: Gartner Future of Work Trends 2026, Owl Labs Workplace Report 2026, Gallup State of the Global Workplace 2025.
