The introduction of AI tools like ChatGPT in 2022 promised to revolutionize workplace productivity, offering a faster and more efficient way to handle everything from drafting reports to generating new ideas. For Anurag Garg, founder of Everest PR, AI represented the future of business. He encouraged his team of 11 to embrace ChatGPT, believing that it would streamline operations and give them a competitive edge. From brainstorming client ideas to transcribing interviews, AI was supposed to take the strain off his employees. But instead of easing workloads, it quickly became a source of stress.
Rather than making tasks quicker, the use of AI tools started to bog the team down. Employees had to spend extra time constructing prompts for the AI and then cross-checking the results for errors, which were frequent. What was meant to be a shortcut turned into additional work, and the team felt the pressure mounting. Each update to ChatGPT added another layer of complexity, forcing them to relearn the system’s features. The more AI became embedded in their processes, the less efficient the team felt, and the stress began to take its toll.
“There were too many distractions,” Garg recalls. “The team found that their tasks were taking longer than before because they were constantly working with AI tools.” What was supposed to be a productivity booster had become a productivity drain, adding stress and doubling workloads. The issue wasn’t just the complexity of AI tools but the expectation that they be used for everything, creating a sense of overwhelm within the team.
The situation wasn’t any easier for Garg, who had adopted several AI tools to manage both his team and his clients. Beyond ChatGPT, he incorporated tools like Zapier for task management and Perplexity for research. But the rapid expansion of AI tools on the market only increased his frustration. “The market is saturated with AI tools, and no single tool solves all problems,” Garg explains. “Keeping track of each tool and its functions became a mess, and I was finding it hard to manage.” Instead of making things easier, AI was complicating daily operations, and Garg himself began feeling burned out.
Eventually, Garg decided to scale back on AI usage. He no longer required his team to use AI for every task and instead allowed them to use it only when it genuinely improved efficiency, particularly for research purposes. “It was a learning process for us,” he says. “Now that we’re not relying on so many AI tools, work has become more manageable. The team is happier and more connected to their work.” What started as an ambitious attempt to stay ahead of the curve had become a valuable lesson in balance.
The struggles faced by Everest PR are part of a broader trend. Research shows that many workers are feeling the weight of AI integration in their workplaces. A survey conducted by Upwork found that while 96% of executives believed AI would boost productivity, 77% of workers felt that the opposite was happening. The extra time spent learning, managing, and correcting AI tools was taking its toll on employees. Many reported feeling unsure of how to meet the heightened productivity expectations that came with AI adoption, leading to growing concerns about burnout.
A study by Resume Now found that younger workers, in particular, are worried about the impact of AI on their well-being. A staggering 87% of workers under 25 expressed concern that AI would increase their chances of burnout. They also feared that AI would negatively affect their work-life balance, with 43% of respondents citing this as a significant concern. As AI tools become more prevalent, workers are grappling with the pressures of adapting to new technologies while maintaining their previous levels of productivity.
Adding to the complexity is the sheer number of tools workers are now expected to use. A report from Asana, a popular work management platform, found that workers juggling six to 15 different apps were struggling to stay on top of their responsibilities. Notifications and messages were constantly slipping through the cracks. For those using more than 16 apps, the loss of efficiency and focus was even more pronounced. The constant switching between platforms and apps was eroding attention spans and making it difficult to maintain momentum throughout the day.
For some industries, the challenges posed by AI go beyond mere efficiency. Leah Steele, a lawyer turned burnout coach, sees firsthand how legal professionals are struggling to adapt to the rapid introduction of AI tools in their field. “There’s an unrelenting push to do more with less,” Steele says. “Law firms are adopting AI to increase productivity, but they’re not taking into account the toll this is taking on their staff.” Steele’s own experience with AI in the legal sector was overwhelming, as new technology meant she was suddenly responsible for five times as many clients as before. She now dedicates her career to helping other professionals avoid the burnout she once experienced.
For lawyers, the introduction of AI tools also means a shift in focus. Many enter the profession to work closely with clients and make a tangible difference in their lives. But as AI takes over routine tasks, lawyers find themselves increasingly distanced from the aspects of their jobs that give them the most satisfaction. Steele notes that burnout is not just a result of overwork but also a loss of connection to one’s work. “When people lose that sense of purpose, it’s easy to feel like the work is no longer meaningful,” she explains.
In industries like law, AI also comes with the added stress of job insecurity. As automation becomes more sophisticated, many workers fear that their roles could be phased out altogether. Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, acknowledges that while AI tools have made many aspects of legal work more efficient, they have also created new tasks for lawyers. “Adopting AI means extra work to learn and integrate these tools,” Atkinson says. “Many of these technologies were not specifically designed for the legal profession, so there’s a steep learning curve.”
Not all businesses, however, experience AI as a source of stress. For small businesses and startups, AI can be a game-changer. Alicia Navarro, founder of Flown, a platform designed to support deep, focused work, notes that for startups with limited resources, AI can be incredibly empowering. “There are a lot of AI tools on the market, and while it can be overwhelming to filter through them, for smaller teams, AI offers a chance to achieve more with fewer resources,” Navarro says. Used correctly, AI can help smaller companies punch above their weight and take on tasks that would otherwise be impossible with a limited workforce.
As AI continues to transform the workplace, companies must navigate the delicate balance between leveraging its potential and protecting their employees from burnout. The future of work undoubtedly includes AI, but its successful integration will depend on a careful and thoughtful approach that values both productivity and employee well-being.
