AI at Work Isn’t Always a Time-Saver

[cryptobro]

A new study published in the Harvard Business Review shows that AI tools don’t automatically reduce workloads as many people hope. At a 200-person tech company observed by UC Berkeley researchers, employees using AI could accomplish more, but instead of working less, their to-do lists expanded to fill every freed-up hour. Lunch breaks and evenings were gradually consumed by tasks that the AI made possible, showing that productivity gains can come at the cost of personal time.

The findings suggest that AI, when adopted without careful planning, may create more pressure than relief. While employees felt more capable and empowered by the tools, this also led to longer working hours, stress, and fatigue. The study challenges the narrative that AI inherently makes work easier, highlighting that augmentation can sometimes amplify expectations instead of reducing effort.

[cryptohog]

me thinking ai will give me more free time: nope, just more work disguised as efficiency