AI Boosts Productivity, Expands Workload, Blurs Boundaries: Study

• A Harvard Business Review study found generative AI tools increase productivity but also accelerate work pace, broaden job responsibilities, and extend working hours.
• Employees are taking on tasks previously outsourced or belonging to others, leading to 'task expansion' across roles.
• AI reduces friction in starting tasks, blurring boundaries between work and rest, with employees working during breaks and extending hours informally.
• Multitasking and cognitive load increase as faster workflows lead to higher expectations for speed, making employees feel busier.
• The study warns of 'silent workload creep' and calls for structured 'AI practice' with intentional pauses to prevent burnout and sustain healthy productivity.