AI was supposed to transform the world of work, but it’s mostly just increased workload for limited rewards.

While artificial intelligence (AI) was heralded as a revolution capable of transforming the world of work, the reality is quite different. The widespread use of AI tools such as chatbots in businesses has primarily resulted in an increase in workload for relatively limited gains. Recent studies show that, despite considerable investments, the economic impacts and associated rewards remain far below expectations, calling into question the promises of efficiency and optimization promoted by technological automation. AI was supposed to transform the world of work, but it has instead resulted in an increase in workload for limited rewards. Artificial intelligence (AI) was once touted as a revolutionary technology capable of profoundly transforming the world of work. However, a recent study conducted by the Universities of Chicago and Copenhagen highlights a different scenario. Although AI promises efficiency gains, its positive economic impacts are limited. Companies are finding that, despite their massive investments, the tangible benefits of AI remain modest, sometimes even generating an increase in workload for minimal rewards.

Massive Investments for Modest Economic Impacts

While companies are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence-based tools, the results achieved fall far short of initial expectations. According to the study conducted by Anders Humlum and Emilie Vestergaard, despite the hopes placed in the technological potential of AI, the economic impacts are proving to be low. An analysis of 25,000 workers in 7,000 professional environments indicates that AI reduces working hours by only 3%.

on average, and this productivity gain only leads to a salary increase of

3 to 7%. Impact on Workload Far from reducing workload, the use of AI seems to actually exacerbate the pace of work. Indeed, more than **80%**of employees report using the freed-up time to work more rather than taking rest. This shows that, despite AI’s promise to simplify tasks, it often results in additional workload.

Disappointing Returns on Investment

Companies hoped that integrating AI would offer them a substantial economic advantage. However, a survey of 2,000 CEOs conducted by International Business Machines Corporation revealed that only 25% of AI-related initiatives are profitable. The example of Klarna, a Swedish financial services company, illustrates this disillusionment well, recording significant net losses after replacing its customer service agents with AI.

Job Destruction: A Myth?

Contrary to initial fears that AI would cause massive job destruction, the study indicates that this technology has not yet had this devastating effect. In fact, according to the British magazine The Economist, employment in office-based jobs has increased over the past year. This observation underlines that artificial intelligence does not yet pose a large-scale threat to employment. Premature Enthusiasm for Generative AI The fascination surrounding generative AI seems premature given the concrete results obtained. The economists behind the study urge caution, stating that the innovation has not yet fully benefited the labor market. Rather than radically transforming the employment sector, AI reveals the limits of technology in the face of the complexity of human labor.

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