AI promised less work. I've never worked more (oioannou.com)

A recent reflection by a full-stack engineer highlights the paradox of increased productivity due to AI tools, revealing a heavier workload rather than the anticipated reduction in work hours. Initially, the engineer enjoyed the benefits of AI agents that streamlined engineering tasks, allowing for more projects and quicker deployments. However, as more tasks were automated, the complexity and number of responsibilities grew significantly, leading to mental fatigue from constant context switching among multiple agents. The engineer's GitHub contribution history illustrates this shift, showing a dramatic spike in contributions in 2026 that aligns with the integration of AI in their workflow. Although 2026's activity reached levels comparable to their peak coding years, the sheer volume of tasks—occasionally leading to bursts of productivity—has resulted in burnout. This experience underscores a critical concern in the AI/ML community: while AI has the potential to enhance efficiency, it simultaneously challenges the capacity for strategic thinking and mental bandwidth, raising questions about sustainable work practices in an AI-augmented work environment.