Managing (AI) Intelligence: When AI Adds Work, Not Time

New research tracking 200 employees at a tech company shows AI often increases workload rather than freeing time. Workers moved faster and took on more tasks, leading to longer hours, blurred boundaries, and more multitasking that caused fatigue and mistakes.

Managers should create real norms—intentional pauses, deliberate sequencing of tasks, and human check-ins—to manage the extra capacity AI creates so it doesn’t default into more work and burnout.