tech
May 5, 2026
Can artificial intelligence reduce our productivity?
Elon Musk is arguably the most productive person in history. Beyond the gigantic fortune he has built, what he does in his day-to-day life is quite impressive. He simultaneously runs Tesla and SpaceX, defines the strategy for X (Twitter), and actively participates in various non-profit organizations and public policy debates.
TL;DR
- Artificial intelligence tools, despite their perceived benefits, may negatively impact productivity by increasing cognitive load.
- Elon Musk's radical time-blocking strategy is an example of managing cognitive load.
- Cognitive load refers to the mental effort required for information processing, decision-making, and sustained attention, limited by working memory.
- Information overload from social media and AI tools intensifies cognitive load, leading to difficulty concentrating and mental fatigue.
- AI tools like ChatGPT can lead users down 'rabbit holes,' increasing time spent and distracting from original goals.
- Research indicates that the extrinsic cognitive load from AI tools can negatively impact performance significantly.
- AI increases the volume of content (emails, documents, presentations), further straining cognitive capacity.
- Incentives for AI companies prioritize maximizing usage, potentially exacerbating attention demands.
- The prevalent view of AI as an unequivocal productivity booster overlooks its emerging cognitive and emotional costs.
- The long-term cognitive and emotional costs of constant AI interaction could outweigh perceived immediate gains.