AI use at work may increase burnout and lower quality: study

The use of artificial intelligence tools in the workplace may be contributing to higher workloads, burnout symptoms, and a decline in work quality, according to a study by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley.

The findings were published in the Harvard Business Review and were based on observations of 200 employees at a US-based technology company.

Researchers examined how the introduction of AI tools affected employee productivity, decision-making, and overall well-being.

The report found that while AI initially delivered a short-term productivity boost, it also led to higher expectations from employers. Tasks that once took longer periods and required more staff were completed faster by fewer workers, resulting in those workers being assigned more responsibilities.

This, the researchers noted, triggered a chain reaction of additional tasks, fewer breaks, and a disruption of work-life balance.

According to the study, the increased workload contributed to cognitive fatigue, burnout, and weaker decision-making over time. The report warned that early productivity gains could eventually give way to lower-quality output and higher employee turnover.

AI engineers were among those most affected, as they spent time reviewing AI-generated code and assisting non-coders now expected to use AI tools. Many workers also reported using spare moments, such as lunch breaks and meetings, to enter additional prompts, reducing their ability to mentally recover during the day.

Some users also said frequent reliance on AI reduced their ability to innovate and solve problems independently. AI engineer Siddhant Khare wrote in a blog that constantly turning to AI can weaken learning by limiting the mental effort that comes from struggling with problems.

The researchers suggested measures such as intentional pauses, structured workflows, and increased human interaction to counter these effects.