AI industry workers report workloads reaching 90 hours per week

Despite predictions that artificial intelligence would reduce working hours, employees at major AI firms like OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Google are reporting significantly increased workloads. In some instances, particularly during intense product launch periods known as “sprints,” weekly working hours have reportedly reached or exceeded 90 hours at OpenAI and Anthropic.

While OpenAI has publicly advocated for a four-day work week without salary reductions, former employees claim the company does not practice this internally, citing a culture of frequent “crisis meetings,” weekend work, and rigorous performance evaluations. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted that while AI tools allow fewer employees to accomplish more, the company has also undergone workforce reductions.