Tech Workers Coin New Term 'Meat Proxy' for Uncritical AI Relayers
A German engineer has popularized the label 'meat proxy' to describe coworkers who simply copy-paste AI responses without adding value.
Niklas Gruhn, a software engineer from Germany, introduced the slang 'meat proxy' in an early-August blog entry, lamenting that colleagues were posting unfiltered AI outputs into team channels. He argued that interacting directly with the model is faster and offers better context control. The expression resonated on X, earning praise from figures like Simon Willison and inclusion in Mehul Agarwal's tech lexicon.
Users such as Ratul Dawar and Tommy Zinnatullin shared their takes, highlighting the annoyance and potential career risk of acting as a passive AI messenger. Some participants suggested alternative names like "slopper" or "human ChatGPT wrapper," while others defended the practice as a legitimate workflow. The discussion reflects broader frustration with low-effort AI content flooding workplaces and social media.
Why it matters
It highlights growing concerns about careless AI use that can erode productivity and accountability in tech teams.
In this story
