AI Was Supposed To Save Time, But Many Workers Are Ending Up With More Tasks: Study

A recent study investigating the real-world impact of generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT indicates that the technology has yet to provide the wide-ranging productivity benefits many touted, and may even be leading to extra work for some workers.

What Happened: Economists from the University of Chicago and the University of Copenhagen examined data from 25,000 Danish workers between 2023 and 2024 across 11 professions seen as liable to automation, like accounting and software development.

Despite the speedy adoption of AI chatbots in these sectors, the researchers found no significant alterations in wages or hours spent working.

Why It Matters: According to the study, while 64–90% of users saved a little bit of time by implementing AI tools, they were also faced with new responsibilities like checking AI output or monitoring student usage of ChatGPT.

These news tasks came up for 8.4% of workers, offsetting anticipated efficiency gains. On average, users saved just one hour per week, and only a small portion of that translated into higher pay.

The study comes in the heels of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's disclosure about AI writing up to 30% of the company's code, and President Donald Trump‘s executive order promoting AI education in schools.

At the same time, it also calls into question the claims made about AI and productivity by tech and business leaders, like Nadella's statements about AI redefining knowledge work, Mark Cuban's view of AI as the "greatest growth and productivity engine ever" and Jamie Dimon's comments about how AI will "eliminate" some careers.