A recent study has unveiled a surprising phenomenon – artificial intelligence (AI) has not, as many executives had hoped, enhanced employee productivity. Instead, it has increased workloads and stress levels.
The study, conducted by Upwork, a leading global freelancing platform, revealed that 77% of AI users feel that the technology has not eased their workload but has instead made their jobs more burdensome, leading to increased burnout.
Image source note: Image generated by AI, image authorized service provider Midjourney
The study also pointed out that despite 96% of executives expecting AI to be a "panacea" for improving employee productivity, the reality has not lived up to expectations. Upwork found that only a quarter of the companies led by these executives have AI training programs, and only 13% have adequate strategies to achieve the anticipated productivity gains. Among ordinary employees, 47% said they are unclear about how AI tools can help them improve their work efficiency.
To arrive at these findings, Upwork surveyed 2,500 respondents from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, including 1,250 executives, 625 full-time employees, and 625 freelancers.
71% of full-time employees reported feeling exhausted, and 65% struggled to meet their employers' demands. Meanwhile, 81% of executives admitted that they had increased their expectations of employees over the past year. One-third of employees indicated that due to excessive work and burnout, they might resign within the next six months.
Although Upwork advocates that when implemented properly, AI can boost productivity, this study shows that even a platform promoting business development questions the actual effectiveness of AI. Such results are bound to provoke deep thought among companies when implementing AI technology.
Key takeaways:
📉 The study found that 77% of AI users feel their workload has increased, and burnout has intensified.
📊 Executives have overly high expectations for AI, with 96% believing it can significantly improve productivity, but the actual results are disappointing.
👥 The survey shows that 71% of full-time employees are exhausted, and one-third of employees may leave due to burnout.