When AI like ChatGPT became popular in late 2022, Anurag Garg, the head of a PR agency, wanted his small team to use it to work faster and keep up with competitors. However, instead of helping, the AI tools made things more stressful.
His team found that using AI for daily tasks like creating story ideas or taking notes made their work take longer. They had to come up with specific prompts for the AI and check its answers, which often contained errors. Plus, every time the AI got updated, they needed to learn how to use the new features, adding to their workload. Garg mentioned that this led to complaints about distractions and a feeling of burnout among his staff.
In response to the challenges, Garg decided to limit the use of AI to just research instead of making it mandatory for all tasks. This change made his team feel better and more connected to their work, as they returned to traditional methods.
Recent research backs up the issues that Garg and his team faced. A survey by Upwork showed that while many executives believe AI will boost productivity, most employees feel it has made them less efficient and increased their workload. A staggering 61% of workers think using AI will lead to burnout, especially among younger employees.
Similarly, a study by Asana found that using many apps at work can overwhelm employees, causing them to miss important messages and feel less efficient. Cassie Holmes, a professor at UCLA, pointed out that switching between multiple tools wastes time, making workers feel even more stressed.
Leah Steele, a coach who helps legal professionals with burnout, said many are feeling pressured to do more work with fewer resources due to the introduction of AI. She emphasized that it’s not just about the amount of work but how people feel about it. Many workers want to have meaningful interactions rather than being overwhelmed by technology.
The Law Society of England and Wales noted that while AI can help with routine tasks, it often creates more work for lawyers, requiring them to learn new systems and adapt their processes.
However, Alicia Navarro, the CEO of Flown, believes that AI can be beneficial for smaller companies. She said that when used correctly, AI can help these businesses become more productive and efficient, allowing them to achieve more with limited resources【source: BBC】.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93pz1dz2kxo