“Let AI do your job, and take a day off”

A false promise from Genspark

Genspark’s latest AI ad features Matthew Broderick using AI so he can skip work, Ferris Bueller style.

Unfortunately, it’s not playing out that way.

HBR’s latest research found that AI is making work more intense, not less. Employees using it took on more tasks, multitasked more often and worked more during non-work hours.

I’m seeing this especially among my former colleagues. Where adoption is high, people use AI to keep pace with each other. Google is now offering severance packages to employees who aren’t “all-in”.

This makes sense. Productivity feels good, for companies and workers alike. Who doesn’t like getting to inbox zero?

No one knows how this will play out long-term. But sustainable advantage doesn’t come from doing more of everything. It comes from doing the right things.