Harvard Study: AI Intensifies Work, Not Reduces It

Researchers find employees voluntarily expand workloads when given AI tools, leading to unsustainable intensity.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A new study from Harvard Business Review found that when employees are given access to AI tools, they don't use them to work less - instead, they take on more tasks and work longer hours. The researchers followed 200 tech workers for 8 months and observed a "new rhythm" where employees managed multiple active projects simultaneously, leading to a "sense of always juggling" despite feeling productive. Crucially, the employees weren't asked to do more - they voluntarily expanded their own workloads after gaining AI capabilities.

Why it matters

The findings highlight a paradox of AI - while it can boost individual productivity, it may also lead to unsustainable work intensity as employees take on more than they can reasonably handle. This raises concerns about the long-term mental and physical toll on workers as AI becomes more integrated into daily work life.

The details

Researchers Aruna Ranganathan and Xingqi Maggie Ye from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business studied 200 employees at a U.S. tech company over 8 months. They found that workers didn't use AI tools to clock out early, but rather to take on more tasks and work longer hours. Employees described feeling like "quality-control inspectors for an unreliable but prolific junior colleague" as they managed multiple active projects at once.

  • The Harvard Business Review study was published on February 10, 2026.

The players

Aruna Ranganathan

A researcher at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business who co-authored the study on how AI impacts worker productivity and intensity.

Xingqi Maggie Ye

A researcher at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business who co-authored the study on how AI impacts worker productivity and intensity.

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What they’re saying

“AI introduced a new rhythm in which workers managed several active threads at once. Workers described a sense of always juggling, even as the work felt productive.”

— Aruna Ranganathan and Xingqi Maggie Ye, Researchers (Harvard Business Review)

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue studying the long-term impacts of AI on worker productivity, intensity, and well-being.

The takeaway

This study highlights the paradox that while AI can boost individual productivity, it may also lead to unsustainable work intensity as employees voluntarily take on more tasks than they can reasonably handle. As AI becomes more integrated into daily work life, employers and policymakers will need to carefully consider the mental and physical toll on workers.