Where does the time saved by AI go? Most people are just slacking off in a different way

It is widely believed that people will use the time saved by AI to enrich their personal lives, carry out innovation, or improve work efficiency. However, the reality is not so. Many people do not make full use of the saved time. For companies, by helping employees realize and reallocate this time, they can ensure the efficiency improvement driven by AI and bring meaningful changes in the workplace and other aspects.

AI is changing the way we work. According to a 2023 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot can help people write various contents, from emails and blog posts to internal analysis plans, 40% faster than in the past. These new technologies have a particularly profound impact on various technical jobs. For example, a study by the MIT Sloan School of Management, Microsoft Research, and GitHub shows that generative AI coding tools can reduce programming time by 56%.

How should employees make use of this unexpectedly gained time? Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, experts have been debating this question. For example, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found that many people use the extra time to solve problems, interact with others, or learn new knowledge. However, Nobel laureate in economics Christopher Pissarides has a different view: he believes that we should use this new free time to improve our well - being and even switch to a four - day workweek.

It is widely believed that people will use the time saved by AI to enrich their personal lives, carry out innovation, or improve work efficiency. However, two surveys conducted by the University of Lausanne in Switzerland in early 2024 among 302 global AI users and 57 managers challenged this view. The surveys asked the following questions: Have you saved time using generative AI? Do you feel you have more time to do other things? Will you reallocate the saved time to personal affairs or work - related tasks? How often do you waste this "new time"?

Researchers found that generative AI saves managers an average of about 2 hours and 46 minutes per week. 82% of people said that this technology helps them complete work faster, but many of them did not make full use of the saved time: 38% admitted to wasting more than half of the time. Similarly, among users who saved time using AI, 84% admitted to wasting at least a quarter of the time. When asked how to effectively use the extra time, 40% of managers said they just did more of the same work as before. Few managers used this time to connect with others, enjoy family life, learn new skills, or adjust their physical and mental states.

"To reallocate the saved time, people first need to notice when they have saved time." said Isabelle Engeler, an associate professor in the marketing department at the University of Lausanne and the first author of the study. She believes that only when we clearly know how much time we have saved can we decide how to benefit from it. She pointed out: "Unfortunately, many people cannot immediately notice this." 37% of managers in the study agreed with this.

To make the most of this "new time", Engeler suggests that managers take the following four steps:

Be strategic. Focus on collecting information to understand how much time is saved from tasks with the most significant expected benefits. But don't start with a large - scale statistical analysis. Start with a small - scale pilot.

"If your goal is just to roughly estimate the time saved by AI, you don't need many people in the pilot phase," Engeler said. "But if you want to monitor the impact of the saved time on the team or the entire organization, you need a larger sample size."

Let employees record time. Once you have determined what to track and which members to involve, let the selected employees record the time saved each day. There are several ways to do this: employees can estimate the time saved by AI by reviewing their daily activities and then report it themselves, such as writing in a diary; or simply record the time it takes to complete a task without using generative AI and then record the time it takes to complete the same task using AI.

Productivity tracking software such as Harvest and ActivTrak allows managers to observe and record the time spent on various tasks. Compared with employees' self - reports, these software can provide more accurate and objective data. No matter which method is used, any form of time recording should help you better understand how much time has been saved.

Develop a blueprint for time reallocation. Once you know how much time the team can save by using generative AI, develop a meaningful utilization plan, such as investing time in activities that promote employee well - being, productivity, and personal growth. Ask employees how they used to use this time and in which areas it would be better for them to invest more time. But remember, as a manager, you are responsible for setting the direction, such as urging employees to relax or encouraging them to take on new challenges.

"The way employees use this extra time ultimately depends on the guidance of managers," Engeler said. "Employees can plan to use this time to stretch, have a cup of coffee, communicate with colleagues, or engage in a strategic project. No matter what they do, they should allocate this time purposefully in advance. Without guidance and pre - planned activities, the saved time can easily slip away."

Monitor the time reallocation situation. Regular monitoring and feedback are crucial for helping employees make full use of the "new time". Managers should pay continuous attention, observe how subordinates use this time, and promote effective utilization methods.

"Generative AI tools can improve productivity and help employees better balance work and life. But all time reallocation requires a well - thought - out, purposeful, and continuous approach," Engeler said. "By helping employees realize and reallocate this time, companies can ensure the efficiency improvement driven by AI and bring meaningful changes in the workplace and other aspects."

Regarding this study "What Do You Do with the Time Saved by Generative AI Tools? Many Waste It, Managers Included", by Isabelle Engeler et al., Working Paper, 2024.

Sun Yan | Editor

This article is from the WeChat official account "Harvard Business Review" (ID: hbrchinese), author: HBR - China, published by 36Kr with authorization.