AI Adoption Increases Employee Workloads, Contradicting Promises of Productivity Gains

Tech CEOs have lauded that AI will turn workers into “superhumans” where work is optional , and more time dedicated to innovating the world—but so far, the opposite has been true for most. Recommended Video AI is actually increasing strain for most employees, as the tools add more time to menial tasks, and actually takes away from deep-focus work.

Since adopting AI into their workflows, time spent across every job responsibility shot up anywhere from 27% to 346%, according to a recent ActivTrak report that analyzed 10,584 users 180 days before and after their AI adoption.

The time spent toiling on grunt work like emails increased by 104%, while chatting and messaging climbed by 145%, and using business management tools rose 94%. There wasn’t a single activity category where using AI actually saved users time, with the report reaffirming that: “The data is unambiguous: AI does not reduce workloads.” Instead,

professionals are now multitasking at a greater rate, and spending less of their days concentrating on complex problems. “The prevailing assumption about AI and modern work is that both make the workday lighter. Shorter. More manageable.