One of the most popular arguments about artificial intelligence today suggests that this technology will help workers work more efficiently, reduce pressure and even help them have more rest time. However, a new study published in the Harvard Business Review shows that reality may be going in the opposite direction.
The study was conducted by scientists from the University of California Berkeley for 8 months at a technology company with about 200 employees. Through more than 40 in-depth interviews, the research team found that the application of AI does not require employees to increase work targets. However, when AI tools help process work faster, it makes many people proactively do extra work.
According to research results, employees' work lists are constantly expanding, encroaching on lunch breaks and evenings. An engineer participating in the survey said that many people once expected AI to help reduce working hours, but in fact the number of working hours has not decreased, even increased.
This phenomenon is also reflected on the Hacker News technology forum. A user shared that when the working group switches to using AI, job expectations increase sharply, pressure also increases, while actual productivity only improves at a limited level.
Some other studies also gave similar results. Tests conducted last year showed that experienced programmers when using AI tools took 19% more time to complete tasks, even though they believed they worked faster. Meanwhile, a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research from monitoring AI applications in thousands of workplaces showed that productivity only increased by about 3% thanks to time saving and did not create significant changes in income or working hours.
According to researchers, AI can still help workers complete more tasks. However, this also leads to an increased risk of fatigue and difficulty separating from work, especially when businesses are increasingly placing high expectations on speed and responsiveness.
The technology world is betting that helping workers handle more work will help improve operational efficiency. However, experts warn that if there is no appropriate management mechanism, AI may become a factor that increases work pressure instead of reducing the burden on workers.
