AI burnout at work is a thing! Here is how to prevent it
Marco van Hurne
Architect of AI solutions that improve business efficiency and client engagement.
I remember when my team first started exploring AI tools. I think you can recall it too.
It was such a thrill — like we were about to unlock a superpower from the future. But, about a year later, when the excitement faded, and the number of tools exploded (we hadn't come up with a policy on shadow AI , yet), the anxiety started to creep in.
The more we tried to incorporate AI into our workflow, the more pressure we felt to keep up.
It wasn't just getting the hang of the new tech. It was about the fear of falling behind.
The stress of juggling our usual tasks with new AI-related stuff, and the nagging worry about whether AI would make our lives easier or just add to the pile of work.
Before we start!
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My team is not the only one
AI burnout is becoming a big issue as CEO's everywhere are racing to adopt AI, and especially generative AI. Yeah, it's got major potential benefits, that I am sure off. But there's a growing risk of employee burnout because I see a lot of businesses rush to implement these technologies without really thinking about the human impact.
This rush WILL lead to some serious problems if they not handled with care.
One big concern is the strain on resources.
Bob Huber, the Chief Security Officer I worked with at the cybersecurity firm Tenable, when I was with EXN, he pointed out that many organizations aren't giving extra resources to support AI integration. Instead, the existing teams are being asked to take on extra AI-related projects on top of their regular work. He told that while some AI applications may be easy to deploy, most need a lot of resources for proper design, building, and evaluation.
So, if you haven't thought this through, and just dump these extra responsibilities on your people without giving them the extra support that they need, it is easy to see how burnout can happen.
And it's not just me and him noticing it.
Data also backs this up.
A survey done by Resume Now in March 2024 found that 63% of 1,150 U.S. workers were afraid that AI would lead to more burnout.
This fear was especially strong among younger employees, with nearly 90% of them worried about AI-related stress. The survey also showed that 61% of people were concerned about AI messing with their work-life balance, and two-thirds were scared of losing their jobs because of AI.
I talked with Heather O'Neill. She is a career expert at Resume Now, and she suggests that these fears are made worse by the big claims companies make (read: CEO's | CTO's, and | CDO's) about how AI can boost efficiency and output.
I can imagine that people naturally worry that these promises will mean higher expectations for them and a more intense workload to handle. Plus, the pressure to upskill and adapt to new AI tools can be overwhelming. Face it, it's just adding another layer of stress that contributes to burnout!
How can companies move with AI without burning employees?
The answer is so simple.
The key is a thoughtful, and measured approach.
And not the opposite.
Instead of rushing into big AI projects, just introduce AI gradually.
This slower pace will allow your teams to adapt to the change without feeling pressured to deliver immediate results. And that can help with some of the stress that comes with adopting new AI stuff.
And don't forget to talk.
Companies need to share how they think that AI will be integrated into the workplace, what the training process will be like, and how roles might perhaps change. Don't just keep them in the dark.
They read the stuff about huge job losses due to AI as well as you do.
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And who wants to contribute to training an AI that will eventually take over your job anyway? I can totally relate to that.
This communication needs to be very specific. It needs to address how the AI application will impact individual roles rather than making broad, company-wide blablabla townhall-esque announcements.
I just hate townhall meetings as a way to communicate change.
They're just wrong.
I know that, when people understand exactly how their work will change, and they see a clear timeline for AI adoption, they are more likely to feel comfortable with the transition.
It has been proven time and again, that this approach works !
Also involve your employees in the AI adoption process. That will make a difference. Simply ask for a bit of feedback dear leaders, and also address their concerns. I believe in management by walking around, and showing your face. Just make AI integration a team effort rather than a top-down order.
Sometimes, the solution can be so simple. Duhh.
In my 20+ years as a tech innovator I've learned that this approach helps create a more positive attitude toward the new technology.
Setting realistic expectations from the start is another important factor. You need to make sure that your teams aren't overwhelmed by trying to maintain their original responsibilities, and at the same time also taking on new AI-related tasks. Just balance the workload and set achievable goals. This way you will prevent the kind of stress that leads to burnout.
Intermezzo
This leads me to a previous article that I've written about the company called Fount . Their platform helps people get rid of work-friction, in a non-intrusive way, but just asking them a few question a couple of times a year. And because of the sheer volume of data it absorbs, and the AI it uses (in the back), it can calculates how much time their work costs them now, and what the bottlenecks are.
And when you are implementing your shiny AI-toys, do it a couple of times after the implementation. This way, you can detect if their work suddenly is spiking in intensity, or if it is causing more friction.
Read the article , if you want to know more about work-friction, and the platform.
It is also important to tell people that AI is meant to help with repetitive tasks. The aim of all this beautiful AI is to free them up to focus on more complex, and more rewarding projects. This reassurance helps ease fears that AI will replace jobs and instead frame the technology as a tool that makes their work better.
That only works of course, if people perceive you as being honest.
People always know if you're telling the truth or not. They have a knack for it.
Trust me, they do.
And my last advise is to offer targeted training which is tailored to each role. This way your people get the skills they need to use the AI effectively without feeling overwhelmed. You might also consider setting up a AI support team to help employees adjust to the new tools and processes.
Backed up by science
The concerns and the strategies that I've discussed here not only common sense, but are also backed by various studies and expert opinions. For instance, MIT economist Daron Acemoglu has raised some concerns about the current trajectory of AI in the workplace. He warns that AI could make job stress and inequality worse, without careful management.
The insights through his research can be found in numerous papers and interviews .
In addition, the Resume Now survey mentioned earlier gives you a detailed look at how workers feel about AI and burnout.
So, dear CEO's, Just take the time to introduce AI gradually. Talk about it. Involve people, and provide some support. This way you can keep your people engaged, motivated, and above all....healthy!
Signing off - Marco
Well, that's a wrap for today. Tomorrow, I'll have a fresh episode of TechTonic Shifts for you. If you enjoy my writing and want to support my work, feel free to buy me a coffee ??
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Thank you for the shout out Marco van Hurne!
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3 个月Very informative
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3 个月am looking forward to seeing how much harm or benefit robot teachers will bring to this field with the help of robot teachers who tirelessly explain lessons suitable for each student for hours or stop-start service and how much harm or benefit I will see from this development in the future. I wish you good work ????
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3 个月Dear Marco. Thank you for this information you shared with us. I am not a philosophy teacher (I am not studying because philosophy continues to be perceived as a medieval mentality... due to narrow thoughts such as philosophy = atheist? ??) I have been reading various articles about artificial intelligence. The issue of artificial intelligence and education has become more and more important day by day and continues to do so. With artificial intelligence in education, education continues to move beyond the classical four walls. "classroom" "college" "school" "teacher" etc. I think that we will be very affected by both the positive and negative aspects of artificial intelligence, as concepts such as these will experience various changes in the future and these concepts will become like stories that we will keep telling "once upon a time." Even now, this makes me feel stressed. Will artificial intelligence destroy the teaching profession? I
Book Designer at Jisa Publications
3 个月Very informative??????