Tech leaders say AI means less work - their staff say they work up to 90 hours a week

AI technology is being touted as a means to reduce the amount of time people spend working, with executives predicting a four-day work week by 2025. However, former employees of AI companies report that they are working up to 90 hours a week, far exceeding the normal 40-hour work week. The BBC spoke with individuals who work at AI start-ups and larger tech companies on AI projects, who described grueling work conditions and a culture of constant pressure.

Companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Google have all claimed that their AI tools would reduce the need for human labor, but workers attest that the opposite is true. Despite the positive compensation for tech workers, the work culture has become increasingly demanding, with frequent weekend work, long hours, and a lack of work-life balance.