Burnout is a growing concern across industries, but artificial intelligence is quietly changing the game.
Recognized by the World Health Organization as an “occupational phenomenon,” burnout is more than just a personal issue — it’s a business one.
According to a 2025 study in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, burnout costs U.S. companies between $4,000 and $21,000 per employee each year — or up to $5 million annually for an average U.S. company with 1,000 employees.
To combat burnout, many companies are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot. These automate repetitive tasks, summarize information, and assist with content creation and project management. A global study by the University of Melbourne and KPMG International of more than 32,000 workers from 47 countries found that 58% of employees intentionally use AI at work, with one-third using it weekly or daily.
Yet many workers still lose valuable time, spending 2.6 hours a day, or 13 hours a week — around a third of the average work week — on tasks that AI could easily handle, according to a survey by GoTo and research firm Workplace Intelligence of 2,500 employees and IT leaders around the globe.
