Feb 10, 2026, 20:33

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:33:56 +0000
ai, CognitiveLoad, productivity, burnout, LaborEcon

AI Doesn’t Reduce Work—It Intensifies It https://hbr.org/2026/02/ai-doesnt-reduce-work-it-intensifies-it
“AI introduced a new rhythm in which workers managed several active threads at once: manually writing code while AI generated an alternative version, running multiple agents in parallel, or reviving long-deferred tasks because AI could “handle them” in the background. They did this, in part, because they felt they had a “partner” that could help them move through their workload.

While this sense of having a “partner” enabled a feeling of momentum, the reality was a continual switching of attention, frequent checking of #AI outputs, and a growing number of open tasks. This created #cognitiveload and a sense of always juggling
… What looks like higher #productivity in the short run can mask silent workload creep and growing cognitive strain as employees juggle multiple AI-enabled workflows
… overwork can impair judgment, increase the likelihood of errors, and make it harder for organizations to distinguish genuine productivity gains from unsustainable intensity
… the cumulative effect is fatigue, #burnout, and a growing sense that work is harder to step away from, especially as organizational expectations for speed and responsiveness rise."
#LaborEcon