AI's 'Automation Tax' Can Increase Workload for Neurodivergent Founders

An article published by Fast Company delves into the paradoxical effects of adopting artificial intelligence in the workplace. Despite AI often being marketed as a productivity booster, the author recounts a personal experience where new tools have actually increased their workload and anxiety.

The publication details how building an AI-powered social media production pipeline for a podcast network initially took a week but automated a task that previously consumed an entire day. However, when the system crashed and required rebuilding, and new projects were delayed, it became clear that the additional work associated with AI use and expectations for faster output can escalate the overall workload.

This phenomenon is particularly significant for neurodivergent individuals, such as the article's author. A national survey indicated that 76% of neurodivergent founders started their businesses to work in a way that suited them, yet 79% report workload-management or burnout challenges. AI is considered "accessibility scaffolding," but its cost of use, the "automation tax," includes the extra labor needed to leverage AI and the assumption that faster production necessitates more work in less time.

The article suggests that companies should evaluate AI tools by asking: what exact task disappears, what new work appears in its place, and does it truly result in fewer things to manage? The best AI tool is not the one that produces the most, but the one that frees up time for desired activities.