‘The millennial middle manager has it the worst’: Viral video hits a nerve, sparks AI work debate

Artificial intelligence was meant to streamline employees' tasks, but a viral Instagram video has revealed a new challenge: middle managers might be bearing the brunt of increased workloads due to AI. Lovish Kaushik, a middle manager himself, argues that this generation's corporate leaders are getting squeezed harder than any other group.

Caught between a workforce that seeks work-life balance and senior leadership demanding higher targets and smaller teams, Kaushik says that managers are often left to translate unrealistic expectations from leadership to their teams while defending their own limitations to upper management. The pressure is particularly evident in startups, where lean teams are already stretched thin and now face the added challenge of doing more with less, thanks to AI's perceived ability to handle all other tasks.

Kaushik describes himself as a "translator" between leadership's demands and his team's capabilities, absorbing criticism from both sides and frequently facing unrealistic expectations. The video has sparked a debate over whether the issue lies with AI or with outdated workplace management practices. Some argue that AI is merely exposing existing problems, while others believe leadership needs to provide more realistic expectations and support.

The consensus seems to be that middle managers need to protect their teams from overwork, communicate when targets are unrealistic, and accept that not every project can be completed with limited resources.