AI tools strain cognition and productivity in offices

Recent research links the use of artificial‑intelligence tools in the workplace to mental fatigue and reduced performance. A large survey of about 11,500 office workers in Europe found that taking a five‑minute walk each hour improves mood and overall productivity, while 75 % of respondents said AI increased output but 52 % avoided such tools because of the effort required to monitor and correct their results. Participants reported “mental fog” (36 %) and feeling “drained” (37 %).

A separate experimental study by researchers at MIT, Oxford, Carnegie Mellon, UCLA and others tested 1,222 U.S. participants. After just ten minutes of using ChatGPT, the AI‑assisted group solved only 57 % of subsequent tasks correctly, versus 73 % for a control group, and gave up on problems more often. The negative effect was strongest when users asked the model for direct answers; those who requested only hints or explanations showed no measurable decline. The authors suggest AI should be used as a coaching aid rather than a solution provider, and recommend regular movement breaks to mitigate cognitive load.