Demand has skyrocketed for artificial intelligence (AI) talent, as companies push millions of dollars—and sometimes billions—into new AI initiatives.
While that’s great for tech pros with the right combination of AI skills, who can pull down enormous pay and perks, the drive to quickly build and grow new AI applications could be triggering an age-old problem: worker burnout.
According to CNBC, AI professionals at some of tech’s biggest companies—including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft—are feeling incredible pressure to deliver, translating into long hours, constantly changing project scope, and rising feelings of dissatisfaction.
“Many said their employers are looking past surveillance concerns, AI’s effect on the climate and other potential harms, all in the name of speed,” the article added. “Some said they or their colleagues were looking for other jobs or switching out of AI departments, due to an untenable pace.”
One anonymous Microsoft engineer told CNBC that the company had “cut corners” in its AI work to deliver projects at speed (Microsoft didn’t comment). Engineers at Amazon, Google, and an unnamed government agency had similar complaints. Given the hype around all things AI (especially generative AI), there’s enormous pressure to keep shipping features that companies can monetize and tout on earnings calls—despite concerns about the technology’s safety.
In past Dice Sentiment Reports, tech pros have cited burnout-related factors such as:
- Workload
- Excessive hours worked
- Lack of recognition for work
- Lack of challenges/monotony
Burnout also impacts every rank of the corporate hierarchy. According to a recent Gallup poll, managers are experiencing elevated rates of burnout. Symptoms of managerial burnout include:
- Work disengagement
- Actively seeking a new job
- Feeling like their organization doesn’t care about their wellbeing
For companies everywhere, there’s huge momentum behind figuring out how to best use AI to advance the business. But effective use of AI also hinges on hiring skilled workers and allowing them to do what they do best—and if those workers are burned out, they’ll leave, potentially wrecking AI projects in the process. Companies must achieve a solid balance when it comes to the use of AI talent.
