AI should be a tool for better work, not just more work.
A recent study published in Harvard Business Review reveals a counterintuitive reality: AI tools are not reducing our work, they are intensifying it.
After tracking a tech company for eight months, researchers found that instead of clearing schedules, AI led to task expansion and a constant surge in multitasking.
The data shows a self-reinforcing cycle. We use AI to make a task easier, which creates room for more tasks, which leads to workload creep.
Eventually, we are working faster and longer just to keep up with the tools meant to help us.
The human cost is significant. Currently, 83% of corporate professionals report burnout due to overwhelming workloads.
Interestingly, there is a massive gap in how this burnout is felt across seniority levels. While 38% of C-suite leaders report burnout, that number jumps to over 60% for entry level workers and associates. The people closest to the tools are the ones feeling the most pressure.
To fix this, we have to move past the idea that AI is a magic wand for productivity. The study suggests companies must establish an intentional AI practice rather than just handing out logins.
Sustainable work in the age of AI requires three specific shifts:
1. We need structured pauses before major decisions to prevent the “speed trap” of automated workflows.
2. We must sequence work more effectively to reduce the mental tax of constant context switching.
3. We have to protect time for human connection, ensuring that efficiency does not come at the expense of our professional relationships.
Teams need to manage the AI transition without increasing burnout.
Can read the McKinsey report here.