The leading factor contributing to burnout, according to studies, is work overload. Consistently high workloads, long hours, and unrealistic expectations place immense pressure on employees, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed and unable to keep up. This constant strain on resources, both mental and physical, leaves people with little room for creativity or innovation. Enter Generative AI (GenAI), a technology that can challenge this problem.
GenAI has the capacity to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks that typically lead to employee burnout. Whether it’s drafting reports, summarizing long documents, responding to basic customer inquiries, or managing schedules, GenAI can take over these low-value tasks. By doing so, it frees up professionals to focus on more meaningful and fulfilling work such as strategy, problem-solving, and creativity. Activities that not only improve job satisfaction but also reduce the mental strain that leads to burnout.
Education is one field where burnouts are particularly apparent. Teachers often face overwhelming workloads, spending hours on lesson planning, grading, and administrative duties. According to recent research, teachers experience burnout due to the demanding nature of these non-teaching tasks (Hashem et al., 2023). GenAI tools like ChatGPT have been shown to relieve these pressures by assisting with personalized lesson plans, generating instructional materials, and even grading assignments. By automating these repetitive processes, teachers can focus more on student interaction and improving the learning experience, which significantly reduces their stress levels.
For example, AI can generate multiple versions of lesson plans tailored to different student needs, freeing up teachers’ time for more meaningful educational activities. Research shows that this not only helps educators manage their workload more effectively but also improves overall teaching quality and student outcomes (Hashem et al., 2023).
Employers across industries should consider integrating GenAI into their daily operations. Automating routine tasks not only protects employees from burnout but also enhances productivity and innovation. As GenAI technology continues to evolve, its potential to alleviate burnout and revolutionize the workplace could make workload-induced burnout a rarity rather than the norm.
Hashem, Reem & Ali, Nagla & Zein, Farah & Fidalgo, Patricia & Abu Khurma, Othman. (2023). AI to the rescue: Exploring the potential of ChatGPT as a teacher ally for workload relief and burnout prevention. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning. 19. 023. 10.58459/rptel.2024.19023.
