AI usage linked to mental fatigue and ‘brain fry’

Experts are warning of a phenomenon known as ‘AI brain fry,’ a state of mental fatigue, information overload, and diminished focus caused by intensive interaction with artificial intelligence. While AI is intended to streamline tasks such as drafting emails, creating presentations, and summarizing meetings, the reality often involves a continuous cycle of reviewing, correcting, and selecting between various AI-generated outputs.

Research from Boston Consulting Group, published in the Harvard Business Review, suggests that constant monitoring of AI outputs can increase exhaustion, error rates, and decision fatigue. Rather than reducing workload, the technology may simply shift the boundary of expected productivity, as employees must now master both their core roles and the complexities of managing AI tools and prompt engineering.