AI’s Promise: Less Drudgery, More Complexity, Same or Lower Pay
The New Challenges of Working with AI
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into the workplace, workers are facing new mental health pressures. This shift is not just about replacing tasks with AI; it’s about taking on new roles that require managing and overseeing AI systems. A recent report on occupational health highlights that the adoption of AI might not reduce workplace burdens but could actually increase them.
The Shift in Work Demands
Researchers from Imperial College London and Microsoft suggest that the real impact of AI will not be mass job replacement, but a fundamental change in work demands. Workers will move from performing routine tasks to acting as stewards of AI agents within workflows. This includes briefing AI systems, reviewing their outputs, and correcting any errors they produce.
Dr. Lara Shemtob, who led the research published in the Society of Occupational Medicine’s journal Occupational Medicine, explained, “As AI absorbs routine tasks, human roles may shift toward stewardship, problem-solving, or emotional labor, all with their own psychological demands.”
Managing AI: A New Role for Workers
This transformation turns workers into managers of AI systems, a role that not everyone is suited for. The report warns that AI may “paradoxically increase the knowledge worker’s burden of handling complex tasks while simultaneously exerting downward pressure on compensation.” In other words, workers may end up with more responsibility and less pay, as AI supposedly makes work “easier.”
The increased responsibilities come with potential mental health challenges. As AI systems become more autonomous, problems like “hallucinations” (false or inaccurate outputs) may escalate and become harder to detect. This adds another layer of complexity to the already demanding role of overseeing AI.
Evidence of Increased Burden
There is already evidence supporting these concerns. A 2024 study found that AI coding tools slowed down developers due to the time spent checking and correcting AI-generated errors. This suggests that even as AI automates certain tasks, it can introduce new challenges that require significant human intervention.
The Need for Better Job Descriptions
The report urges companies to quantify the demands of AI supervision and include them in job descriptions. This would help avoid hidden workloads that negate the benefits of automation. Researchers emphasize that occupational health should be part of the conversation when analyzing how AI changes expectations of workers.
Uncertainty About AI’s Future Impact
Whether this scenario materializes remains uncertain. Recent reports show that companies have invested tens of billions in generative AI with little return, and many projects fail due to underestimated deployment complexity. The question isn’t just how AI will change work, but whether widespread adoption will happen at all.
Conclusion
As AI continues to reshape the workplace, it’s clear that the challenges go beyond just technical implementation. The psychological and emotional demands on workers are growing, and the long-term effects are still unknown. Companies must consider these factors as they integrate AI into their operations, ensuring that the transition supports both productivity and employee well-being.
- AI’s Promise: Less Drudgery, More Complexity, Same or Lower Pay - January 27, 2026
- 61 Mahasiswa STT Rusel Timika Dapat Beasiswa, Harapan Pemprov Papua Tengah - January 27, 2026
- Teknik Menanam yang Sudah Berabad-abad yang Dapat Meningkatkan Kesehatan dan Panen Pohon Buah Anda - January 27, 2026
Leave a Reply