AI drives up work hours to 90 per week at top tech firms

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is paradoxically leading to longer working hours for employees at leading tech companies, with weekly commitments sometimes stretching to 90 hours.

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The company never implemented the four-day work week that others suggested trying during the time they worked there.

Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, at the forefront of AI development, are demanding extensive hours from their staff. While AI tools are designed to streamline repetitive tasks and theoretically reduce workloads, the reality for many employees has been an increase in pressure and an expansion of their responsibilities. This has led to a culture where working 14-hour days is not uncommon, a stark departure from the traditional 9-to-5 structure.

Former employees have described a demanding work environment. One ex-OpenAI staffer noted that the company never implemented a four-day work week, despite suggestions. Instead, the culture fostered "crisis meetings," weekend work, and "brutal" performance evaluations that could lead to colleagues being fired. This intense atmosphere means employees often go into the office on Saturdays and Sundays simply to keep up or ensure everything is running smoothly.

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Crisis meetings, weekend work, and 'brutal' performance reviews that result in the sudden dismissal of colleagues.

This trend extends beyond OpenAI. Anthropic has stated its AI, Claude, can operate for seven hours straight without interruption, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has highlighted how AI is transforming the company's operations, even as Meta recently laid off 10% of its workforce. Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, has also suggested that wider layoffs could occur as AI tools become more efficient.

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AI tools will inevitably lead to more widespread layoffs as they become more efficient.

The intense work periods, often referred to as 'sprints' when new features need rapid deployment, can push project development to last weeks and result in workweeks reaching or exceeding 90 hours. Employees often perceive these extensive, unpaid overtime hours as a form of "conscription," especially when they are not reflected in their salaries.

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Short-term work sprints can lead to working hours reaching 90 hours a week, and sometimes even exceeding that.