For years, artificial intelligence has been marketed as a workplace savior, an innovation that would reduce workloads, boost efficiency, and give professionals their time back.

Rather than eliminating jobs outright, the dominant promise has been that AI would amplify human effort, making workers more capable and indispensable.

However, new findings published in Hardvard Business Review suggest the opposite outcome may be unfolding.

Researchers studying AI adoption inside a mid-sized tech company found that instead of easing workloads, AI tools are quietly accelerating burnout by expanding expectations and blurring the boundaries between work and rest.

Over an eight-month period, researchers from UC Berkeley observed how employees embraced AI without direct pressure from management.

While no new productivity targets were imposed, workers began voluntarily taking on more tasks simply because the tools made them possible. As a result, work gradually spilled into lunch breaks, evenings, and personal time.

Interviews revealed a consistent theme: increased capability did not translate into reduced hours. Instead, responsibilities multiplied to fill the time AI saved.

Engineers and analysts reported working as much, or more than before, despite believing they were being more efficient.

The study reinforces earlier research showing modest productivity gains from AI, often accompanied by heightened stress.

Rather than solving the problem of overwork, the research suggests AI may be reshaping it, turning efficiency into an endless loop of rising demands.

Source: TechCrunch