Instead of Reducing Work, AI intensifies It

By George Waggott, founder and Roberto Fonseca-Velazquez, law student

George Waggott Law

A recent article published by the Harvard Business Review challenges the common assumption that artificial intelligence (AI) tools will reduce employee workloads. While AI tools are often designed to improve efficiency by automating tasks and accelerating output, the authors argue that in practice AI tools actually often intensify work rather than reduce it.

At first glance, AI tools appear to deliver clear productivity benefits. Workers can use AI tools for a wide range of tasks,

including to draft emails, generate reports, analyze data, and complete tasks more quickly than before. These capabilities suggest that employees who are effective at using AI tools will have more time available to focus on higher-value activities. However, there are reasons to believe that these expectations are based on an incomplete or inaccurate assessment of the facts as they actually exist in modern workplaces.

As workers become more efficient, organizational expectations rise accordingly. In other words, the old adage that work expands to fill the available time seems to come into play. When tasks take less time, managers and teams begin to expect more output from workers, all within the same time frame. What was once considered high productivity quickly becomes the new baseline expected from workers. As a result, employees who become more efficient and productive are pressured to produce more, respond faster, and take on additional responsibilities. Put differently, while AI tools can be an excellent means to foster so-called continuous improvement, the process of improving is not a one-time step, and instead involves an ongoing and dynamic concept.

Another key dynamic associated with increasing employee productivity and efficiency is the expansion of job scope. AI tools make it easier for employees to perform tasks outside their traditional roles. For example, non-technical workers may begin doing data analysis or coding with AI assistance. Or contributing in some manner to teams working on these tasks. While this flexibility can be empowering, it also leads to role creep, where employees gradually absorb more duties without a corresponding reduction in their existing workload.

The time saved through using AI tools is rarely converted into rest or reduced hours for employees. Instead, it is typically reinvested into more work. Employees may use the extra time to refine outputs, take on new projects, or respond more quickly to communications. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle in which efficiency gains continuously generate additional demands. For the individual employee, the key point is that the amount of required work is not reduced.

A further consequence of AI-based efficiency gains is the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life. Given that AI tools are accessible and easy to use, workers are more likely to engage in “just a few minutes” of work outside regular hours. Over time, this can lead to a more constant state of engagement with work, making it harder to disconnect and recover.

The cumulative effect of these dynamics can be a resulting increase in the cognitive load and psychological strain faced by employees. Although employees may feel more productive, they can also experience higher levels of stress, decision fatigue, and burnout. Without intentional limits, the result is that more widespread use of AI tolls may amplify the intensity of work to unsustainable levels.

To address these challenges, the organizations must actively manage how AI tools and employee tasks are integrated into work processes. This includes setting clear expectations about workload, defining boundaries for availability, and ensuring that productivity gains do not automatically translate into increased demands. Leaders should emphasize sustainable work practices and employee well-being.

AI tools and their impact on workplaces will vary much depend on how they are used and integrated into the role of humans. Without thoughtful management, AI tools are likely to increase the pace and volume of work, rather than freeing employees from it.

For more information about George Waggott Law, please see: www.georgewaggott.com, or contact: george@georgewaggott.com