The use of artificial intelligence tools in the workplace may be contributing to increased workloads, symptoms of burnout, and lower quality of work, according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.
The findings were published in Harvard Business Review and are based on observations of 200 employees at a US-based technology company.
Researchers investigated how implementing AI tools impacts employee productivity, decision-making, and overall well-being.
The report found that while AI initially brought short-term productivity gains, it also raised expectations from employers. Tasks that once took longer and required more people are now completed faster with fewer workers, and as a result, those workers are assigned more responsibility.
The researchers noted that this causes a chain reaction of further tasks, resulting in fewer breaks and disrupted work-life balance.
Studies have shown that increased workloads have led to cognitive fatigue, burnout, and poor decision-making over time. The report warns that early productivity gains can ultimately lead to lower quality output and higher turnover.
AI engineers, who spend their time reviewing AI-generated code and assisting non-programmers who are expected to use AI tools, were among those most affected. Many workers also reported using free time, such as lunch breaks or meetings, to complete additional prompts, reducing their ability to mentally recover for the day.
Some users say that relying so heavily on AI has reduced their ability to independently innovate and solve problems. AI engineer Siddhant Khare blogs that relying on AI all the time can reduce learning by limiting the mental effort that comes with wrestling with a problem.
The researchers proposed measures such as intentional pauses, structured workflows, and increased human interaction to counter these effects.
