Last year, an Amazon artificial intelligence engineer was about to kick back for the weekend when a Slack message changed everything. Suddenly, he had a deadline: finish a project by 6 AM Monday morning.
So, no weekend plans for him. He ditched his visiting friends and worked around the clock to get it done, as reported by CNBC.
However, the project got pushed aside. According to the engineer, this happens frequently. AI experts like him rush to develop new content only for it to be shelved when priorities shift to something else.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the engineer revealed the intense pressure they faced at Amazon. They had to write significant amounts of code for new AI features without any testing. This risky move led to late-night calls among team members to fix errors.
AI workers at major tech companies feel pressure
Employees in AI at major tech companies like Google and Microsoft revealed to CNBC the intense pressure they face.
They feel compelled to release new tools rapidly, fearing they might lag behind competitors in a field that, according to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, is having its “iPhone moment.”
Tech workers, speaking anonymously due to lack of media authorization, highlighted a common trend across the industry.
They described tight deadlines, keeping up with competitors’ AI updates, and a general disregard from higher-ups about real-world impacts. These themes seem consistent across major tech giants, spanning from Apple and Amazon to Google.
Engineers and other professionals in the field noted that a significant portion of their work now revolves around appeasing investors and keeping up with competitors rather than solving real problems for users.
Some mentioned being reassigned to AI teams to assist with quick launches even if they’re new to the technology and haven’t had enough time to train or understand it properly.
Feeling burnout due to immense pressure and long working hours
AI workers commonly expressed feelings of burnout due to relentless pressure, endless hours, and ever-changing directives. Many noted that their employers prioritize speed over concerns like surveillance, environmental impact, and other potential harms of AI.
Some mentioned either seeking new employment or transferring out of AI departments due to the unsustainable pace.
Behind the scenes of the generative AI boom lies a darker reality. Tech giants are in a race to develop chatbots, virtual agents, and image generators, pouring billions into training massive language models.
They’re driven by the prospect of dominating a market forecasted to exceed $1 trillion in revenue within the next decade. These tech companies openly reveal to investors and staff alike the profound impact AI has on their strategic choices.
