Tech Entrepreneur Claims AI Increased Employee Workloads

A tech founder and new research suggest artificial intelligence is leading to faster paces and longer hours for staff.

Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Remote Work

Bold vector illustration of a modern ergonomic desk and lamp with a closed notebook, representing contemporary workplace culture. — New research and industry observers suggest that AI tools, rather than reducing workload, have expanded employee responsibilities and extended working hours. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you feel that using AI tools has made your own workload heavier?

Entrepreneur Lucy Guo has stated that artificial intelligence tools have led to increased workloads for employees. New findings from UC Berkeley researchers align with this, showing that workers using AI take on more tasks and maintain a faster pace.

Why it matters

The integration of AI may be expanding the scope of employee responsibilities rather than reducing them, as workers must now monitor autonomous agents outside of standard hours to ensure proper function.

Researchers studied 200 employees at a U.S. technology company over eight months to evaluate AI integration. Lucy Guo, who founded Scale AI in 2016 and Passes in 2022, noted that these tools can result in workdays extending beyond standard hours.

The players

Lucy Guo

She is a prominent technology entrepreneur who previously co-founded Scale AI and currently leads the creator monetization platform Passes.

UC Berkeley

This public research university conducted an extensive study on the impact of artificial intelligence on workforce efficiency and operational tasks.

The details

Workers are increasingly tasked with managing autonomous agents that operate around the clock, requiring constant oversight to verify performance. After completing core tasks more efficiently through AI, individuals are often assigned broader responsibilities, further extending their total professional output.

Lucy Guo co-founded Scale AI in 2016.
Guo departed from Scale AI in 2018.
The creator platform Passes was founded by Guo in 2022.
UC Berkeley researchers conducted their study over an eight-month period.
Lucy Guo discussed these workforce trends in a September 2026 interview.

Market Landscape

This trend mirrors findings from the UC Berkeley study on AI-driven productivity and workload expansion, which indicate that efficiency gains are being offset by higher volume requirements. The shift positions companies to extract more output per employee as automation becomes a standard baseline for performance metrics.

Employees may find that the adoption of AI tools leads to higher performance expectations and a broader array of daily responsibilities. Individuals should prepare for the possibility that automation could require monitoring or management outside of their traditional work schedule.

The takeaway

The rise of autonomous agents suggests that efficiency in the workplace is increasingly being met with higher expectations for constant connectivity. Workers should be mindful of how AI tools might shift their professional boundaries and total hours required to meet new production standards.