By Aisha Ditta
Copyright cnbc
It’s clear that AI is transforming the workplace — but some question whether it’s always for the better, arguing that it could be pushing some employees toward burnout, rather than helping them avoid it.
A recent survey found that 45% of U.S. workers who use AI frequently are more likely to suffer high burnout, while 38% of infrequent users of the technology may suffer the same fate, and 35% of non-users. The data comes from Quantum Workplace, one of the largest employee experience databases in the U.S., based on insights from over 700,000 people across over 8,000 organizations.
Using AI tools throughout a full workday can feel the same as spending nine hours at the gym, warned Stokes — emphasizing the need to give the brain time to rest, reset, and recover.
That’s once staff have learned how to use it. AI literacy is another challenge. Not all employees are familiar with how to use these tools effectively, adding pressure on top of existing workloads.
“It is very hard when we’re using an AI tool to keep going, because it’s like an encyclopaedia of everything, ask it anything, and to have it process anything, evaluate anything, and you’re just going down the ultimate rabbit hole. Our brains still need to rest,” Stokes said.
She warns that companies relying on AI to replace headcount may be unintentionally fueling burnout.
Some employees using AI to boost productivity are accomplishing tasks faster — but they’re also taking on more work. “Instead of lightening the load, it’s actually just creating room for more to be put on your plate,” Glover said.
