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Although the accelerated advancement of AI has improved efficiency and output, it has also made many employees "miserable". Their bosses have higher expectations, they have more workloads, and they are more physically tired.

Currently, many companies are actively promoting the application of AI in order to improve efficiency and output.When promoting AI technology, companies often face insufficient resources such as insufficient staff, insufficient funds, backward technology and infrastructure, and lack of time.Bob Huber, chief security officer at Tenabl, noted that when evaluating the potential benefits of AI technology, we were not given additional resources. Resources must be obtained from elsewhere, such as by reallocating employee time or delaying other projects.

Existing staff may need to handle more tasks simultaneously due to resource constraintsFor example, they not only have to complete their original work, but also undertake AI-related projects, which causes them to switch between different tasks. This will greatly increase the workload of employees, and they may feel stressed and even exhausted at work. Huber emphasized:

“Employees may need to multitask, which will further strain resources. Although some AI applications have lower resource requirements, most AI applications still require dedicated resources for development, design, and evaluation, which will consume a lot of employee time and energy.”

In addition, when employees see companies promoting that AI will significantly improve efficiency and productivity, they may naturally worry that their workload will increase significantly while facing higher productivity expectations."Employees hearing this hype are naturally concerned that their workloads will increase dramatically along with productivity expectations," said Heather O'Neill, career expert at Resume Now.

In addition to concerns about increased workload, implementing AI projects usually requires employees with specific skills. If a company lacks these specialized skills, it may affect the progress of AI projects, so employees need to spend extra energy and time to receive AI-related training. Training not only takes time, but may also require extra energy and learning new skills, which makes employees feel exhausted. O'Neill pointed out that the training process can be daunting and exhausting.Employees may feel overwhelmed by being forced to upskill and adapt to AI tools, a stress that could exacerbate existing anxiety and burnout.

In addition, O'Neill added,Some employees worry that the introduction of AI could disrupt their work-life balance.According to a March 2024 survey of 1,150 U.S. employees by Resume Now, 63% of respondents were concerned about the use of AI, and 61% were concerned that it would lead to increased burnout. Among young employees, nearly 90% were concerned about burnout due to AI, and about half of the female respondents believed that AI would have a negative impact on work-life balance. In addition, two-thirds of respondents were concerned about losing their jobs due to AI.

Strategies for balancing AI technology advancement with employee well-being

Fortunately, there are a number of smart strategies that companies can adopt to successfully advance AI projects without causing employee fatigue. Here are some of the tips from experts.

1) Introduce AI gradually to avoid rushing for quick results

Chief Security Officer Huber recommends that companies should introduce AI projects gradually and avoid pursuing ambitious goals that require a lot of resources to reduce pressure on the team. This gradual approach can help ease employee concerns while ensuring a robust implementation of the project.

2) Transparent communication to build trust

O'Neill, the career expert, stressed that to ease employees' concerns, companies must take a slow pace and commit to clear and transparent communication about the use of AI, what training will look like, and changes to performance expectations.

3) Listen to employees and empower them

O'Neill pointed out that HR departments should actively collect employee feedback on AI and address their concerns about the use of AI tools. Turning the use of AI into a discussion rather than a mandatory order can empower employees and stimulate their enthusiasm for new technologies.

4) Clarify AI integration plan

O'Neill said companies must clearly articulate how AI will be integrated into work and a specific timeline for adoption. This shouldn't just be a company-wide announcement, but needs to be specific to each employee's job title and daily workflow.

5) Realistic expectation setting for leadership

Huber believes leadership should prioritize people work, set realistic expectations from the outset, ensure teams understand business goals, and avoid anxiety about moving forward with AI projects.

6) Emphasize the auxiliary role of AI

Companies should continue to emphasize to employees that the main purpose of AI is to assist them with repetitive and mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-level projects. This reassurance will help employees accept and use AI technology. O'Neill said that although some positions may be replaced by AI, most will not. This reassurance is crucial for employees to accept and use this technology.

7) Provide targeted training and support

O'Neill said that because each position will incorporate AI in a slightly different way, companies should provide targeted training to help employees adapt to the changes brought about by AI, and consider establishing a dedicated AI support team to answer their questions in a timely manner as employees adapt to this new way of working.