AI boosts productivity, but risks team burnout and inequality

A tech industry leader warns that while AI tools are increasing productivity, they are also contributing to burnout and uneven workload distribution. The leader, Illia Smoliienko, founder and engineering leader at Sivense, highlights that traditional indicators of burnout, such as a drop in performance, are becoming less reliable with AI’s rise. A study of 442 employees found a weaker link between burnout and productivity decline among AI users. AI is saving managers an average of 2 hours and 50 minutes weekly, according to a University of Lausanne study, but much of this time is spent on fixing AI-generated work. Middle-level roles often bear this burden, as seen in a team at AT&T, where mid-level engineers spent more time reviewing AI code, leading to resignations. Workday’s study of 3,200 employees found that 37% of AI time savings is spent on corrections. Smoliienko advises leaders to question not just what teams achieve, but what it costs them. He emphasizes the need to examine the hidden impacts of AI on team well-being and workload distribution.