AI Fails to Deliver a Four-Day Work Week
Especially at AI companies, working hours are increasing.
1AI's Promise of a Four-Day Work Week
An engineering director at Google predicted that AI would enable a four-day work week by 2025. OpenAI also recommended that companies test a four-day work week without changing pay. However, these promises have yet to materialize.
2Work Culture at OpenAI
A former OpenAI technical employee revealed that the company never tested the four-day work week. Employees frequently attended crisis meetings, worked on weekends, and faced intense performance reviews. One employee reported working at least 70 hours a week.
3Intensity of AI Projects at Meta
Meta employees were abruptly assigned to AI projects this year. Work hours are long, with weekend and night shifts being common. Employees feel they are 'on call' even during non-working hours.
4AI Increasing Workload
A UC Berkeley study found that AI tools are increasing employees' workloads. Workers are performing tasks faster, taking on broader responsibilities, and working more hours each day. The need to constantly check AI outputs also adds to the workload.
5Predictions About AI Reducing Workload
An innovation scholar at MIT noted that predictions about AI reducing workloads are inaccurate. 'People think 20% less work means a four-day work week. But new tasks emerge.'
6Work Hours in the US and UK
In the US, there are no limits on working hours for people over 16. In the UK and Europe, weekly working hours, including overtime, are capped at 48. This contributes to longer working hours.
7Work Hours at AI Companies
Employees at AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic report working up to 90 hours a week. In this intense environment, workers frequently attend crisis meetings and face sudden layoffs during performance reviews.
8AI's Future and Work Life
AI's promise of reducing workloads has yet to be realized. Especially at AI companies, working hours are increasing, and employees are subjected to intense schedules. This highlights the need to reassess AI's impact on work life.
Original article: Slashdot — Yapay Zeka Dört Günlük Çalışma Haftasını Getiremedi