Burnout—a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion—has become a widespread issue in today’s fast-paced workplaces. Long hours, endless demands, and the “always-on” culture are all major contributors. Now, with artificial intelligence (AI) becoming increasingly integrated into our work lives, it’s sparking a crucial question: Can AI help with burnout, or is it simply making things worse?
On one hand, AI can automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and even reduce decision fatigue. On the other hand, the pressure to adapt to new technologies, manage AI systems, and handle AI fatigue—a term used to describe the overwhelm caused by overreliance on AI tools—can be a stressor in itself.
In this article, we’ll explore how AI affects mental health and workplace well-being and cover practical tips for leveraging AI to reduce stress.
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What is burnout?
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, frequently tied to work environments that demand high productivity and results with limited resources or support. It can leave individuals feeling drained, detached, and unable to meet expectations.
Now, a new challenge: AI burnout
AI burnout refers to the stress, fatigue, and overwhelm employees experience as they adapt to artificial intelligence tools. While AI is frequently praised for its ability to enhance efficiency and streamline operations, its rapid adoption has created significant challenges for many workers.
For instance, industries like healthcare and tech, which are rapidly adopting AI, face unique stressors. In healthcare, AI is transforming diagnostics and patient care, but the pressure on professionals to quickly integrate these tools into their workflows can amplify burnout.
A 2024 study found that radiologists consistently using AI were 39% more likely to experience burnout than those who didn’t. The odds of burnout rose in proportion to the frequency of AI use, suggesting that constant reliance on AI may exacerbate emotional exhaustion.
This trend isn’t limited to healthcare. A survey by Quantum Workplace found that U.S. employees who frequently use AI reported 45% higher burnout rates than their peers. This data, derived from one of the largest databases on employee experience, highlights a growing concern: While AI can improve productivity, it can also create new stressors, especially for workers adapting to these tools at an accelerated pace.
How can AI affect mental health and lead to burnout?
AI's potential to revolutionize work is undeniable, but its rapid adoption can unintentionally contribute to burnout in several key ways—often influenced by the company culture.
“Employees who have joy and purpose in their work, feel capable of successfully executing their work and experience are least likely to experience burnout—regardless of how many changes affect them, including AI,” says Dr. Keely Killpack, a change strategist and organizational psychology PhD. “Alternately, employees who are dissatisfied or uncertain of their job, don’t have confidence in their ability or circumstances to be successful in their work, or are confused or overwhelmed by change they experience are more likely to experience burnout.”
Some main reasons AI can lead to burnout:
- Pressure to upskill: For many employees, the push to learn and integrate AI tools into their daily tasks is overwhelming. Training programs are often rolled out with unrealistic expectations, leaving workers struggling to keep up. This can result in feelings of inadequacy or failure.
- Job insecurity: AI’s increasing role in automating tasks has left many workers anxious about their career stability. For example, customer service employees might worry about chatbots replacing their roles, while manufacturing workers face uncertainty about automation displacing their jobs entirely. This fear of obsolescence can lead to chronic stress and anxiety.
- Increased workload and complexity: While AI automates repetitive tasks, it can also create more complex workflows. Workers are required to monitor, oversee, and sometimes correct AI systems, adding layers of responsibility rather than reducing them.
The upside: How AI can reduce stress
While AI can contribute to burnout in certain contexts, Dr. Killpack believes there are many reasons AI might help reduce burnout and improve workplace well-being when implemented thoughtfully.
Reducing decision fatigue
One way AI can fight burnout is by streamlining decision-making. Workers across all industries and levels can experience decision fatigue, where the sheer volume of choices becomes overwhelming. AI tools can help by providing actionable insights or automating minor decisions, allowing employees to conserve their mental energy for more critical tasks. For instance, AI can prioritize daily to-do lists or recommend the best course of action based on data, making work processes smoother and less taxing.
Streamlining repetitive tasks
AI excels at handling ordinary and time-consuming tasks, which can free employees to focus on higher-value activities. “AI can remove repetitive tasks or entire parts of certain jobs, such as batch processing or reviewing resumes, through automation,” Dr. Killpack says. “These efficiencies create time and space for employees to innovate or expand their roles, reducing burnout.”
In customer service, for instance, AI-powered chatbots can handle routine inquiries, allowing agents to engage with complex issues that require human empathy and creativity. “AI can increase the speed of employee performance through simple, automated tasks like sentence completion or creating draft documents, giving employees more time for valuable or purposeful work that reduces burnout,” she says.
Enhancing work-life balance
AI can also support a healthier work-life balance by offering tools for personalized task management and flexible scheduling. For instance, HR platforms that leverage AI can create optimized schedules that align with employee preferences and productivity patterns.
By using these tools, employees can manage their workloads more effectively and save time for personal priorities, reducing stress and improving job satisfaction.
Improving mental health awareness
AI-powered wellness apps are another way technology can help combat burnout. These apps can monitor stress levels and suggest effective management techniques, offering employees accessible mental health support.
For example, AI chatbots can provide guidance for relaxation exercises or connect users with professional mental health resources. Such innovations not only promote individual well-being but also foster a workplace culture that prioritizes mental health.
Read this next: How to Cautiously Use AI for Work and Boost Productivity
AI and burnout in different industries
AI is transforming industries at an unprecedented rate, offering both opportunities and challenges for workers. Different sectors experience these effects uniquely, depending on their reliance on AI and the nature of the work involved. Dr. Killpack believes it’s too soon to tell in which industries this problem will be more prevalent, but there are some signs on the horizon.
AI burnout in healthcare
The healthcare sector has seen significant AI integration, particularly in diagnostics and patient care. While AI can reduce workloads by streamlining processes, such as imaging analysis or administrative tasks, it can also contribute to AI burnout.
Nurses and doctors may need to oversee AI outputs, adding a layer of responsibility and complexity to their already demanding roles. “Adapting to using AI in every work task in a day’s shift will accelerate people’s burnout or resistance to AI and could accelerate job elimination,” Dr. Killpack says.
AI burnout in technology
In the tech industry, the rapid pace of AI advancements has created intense pressure to innovate. Developers and engineers face constant demands to upskill, stay ahead of trends, and integrate AI into products or services. This relentless push can lead to higher rates of AI burnout, particularly for those tasked with managing complex AI systems. Workers in tech may find it exhausting to adapt to AI in every aspect of their workflow, which could increase resistance to these tools and heighten job insecurity.
AI burnout in education
AI-powered learning tools are transforming the education sector, offering personalized learning experiences for students. However, educators face unique challenges in adapting to these technologies. Integrating AI into lesson planning or assessments can be time-consuming and stressful, particularly for teachers unfamiliar with such tools.
Read this next: Navigating Teacher Burnout: Tips to Avoid and Overcome It
How to use AI in the workplace—without the stress
Successfully integrating AI into the workplace requires a thoughtful strategy to minimize stress and avoid burnout. According to Dr. Killpack, the approach taken will vary depending on the company culture and the unique challenges faced by employees.
1. Foster open communication
A culture of open dialogue can help alleviate fears and anxieties about AI’s role in the workplace.
Tips for employers:
“Some organizations may increase leadership communication and direction to stamp out uncertainty about AI,” Dr. Killpack says. “Other companies might hold open office hours, set up a Slack channel, or have staff meetings to directly address employee questions or fears about AI.”
The best approach, she says, would be a combination of tactics: “gathering employee fears, addressing them, and ensuring answers and support are widely available in various mediums.”
Employers should also address how AI impacts roles and future opportunities, creating transparency to build trust and reduce resistance.
Tips for employees:
Engage in open communication to clarify AI’s role and impact on your work. Don’t hesitate to ask questions during meetings or reach out to leaders if you feel uncertain. Proactively seeking understanding can reduce stress and foster a collaborative environment.
2. Set realistic expectations
Unrealistic expectations around AI adoption usually lead to frustration and fatigue.
Tips for employers:
Communicate clearly about what AI can and can’t do, ensuring employees understand its role as a tool rather than a silver bullet. Set phased timelines for implementing AI, starting with simple use cases before advancing to more complex ones. This allows employees time to adjust without feeling overwhelmed.
Tips for employees:
Approach AI with curiosity, and remember that learning to use new tools is a gradual process. Mistakes or slow progress are part of mastering technology, so don’t put undue pressure on yourself to succeed immediately.
3. Encourage gradual upskilling
The pressure to quickly adapt to AI systems can overwhelm workers. Having opportunities to learn at a manageable pace can make the transition smoother and less stressful.
Tips for employers:
Offer ongoing, accessible training programs that fit employees’ schedules. Bite-sized modules or mentorship programs with tech-savvy colleagues can be especially effective.
Tips for employees:
Set personal learning goals to build confidence with AI tools over time. For instance, start by mastering one feature or workflow before moving on to another. Look for YouTube tutorials or forums to see how other people in your industry are adapting to and using AI tools.
4. Leverage AI for employee support
AI can help not just in streamlining tasks but also in promoting well-being and managing workloads.
Tips for employers:
Implement AI-powered platforms to track workloads and identify early signs of burnout, such as frequent overtime or declining performance. For example, Monday.com and Trello offer AI features to monitor team progress and flag workload imbalances.
Some tools can even suggest breaks or prioritize tasks to help reduce stress, like RescueTime or Time Doctor, which analyze work habits and recommend optimal times for rest.
Tips for employees:
Take advantage of AI tools that can support your mental health or time management, such as apps that recommend mindfulness exercises or organize your daily tasks to prevent feeling overwhelmed. For example, Woebot offers emotional support through AI-driven conversations, while Notion helps organize tasks and set priorities for effective time management.
5. Emphasize human-AI collaboration
AI is most effective when it complements human workers, rather than replaces them. Shifting the narrative from “AI as a threat” to “AI as a teammate” can significantly reduce stress.
Tips for employers:
Emphasize how AI can help workers focus on more meaningful and creative tasks by taking over repetitive or time-consuming ones. Highlight examples where AI has supported employees in ways that improve job satisfaction and productivity.
Tips for employees:
View AI as a collaborative tool. Use it to handle data analysis and focus your energy on interpreting insights or making decisions based on those results. This approach can help you feel more empowered in your role, rather than threatened by the technology.
Make AI work for you
AI’s impact on workplace burnout is undeniably complex. Its rapid adoption can lead to stress, fatigue, and even fear, as employees grapple with upskilling demands, job insecurities, and evolving workflows. But AI has also the potential to fight burnout by reducing decision fatigue, streamlining repetitive tasks, and fostering a better work-life balance.
Whether AI exacerbates or alleviates burnout depends on how thoughtfully it’s implemented and how well organizations support their employees through the transition.
The key lies in approaching AI as a tool to enhance—not replace—human capabilities. When paired with clear communication, realistic expectations, and genuine support, AI can help create workplaces where employees feel empowered, not overwhelmed.