The Hidden Cost of AI? 87% of Women in Tech Report Burnout as 42% Face Pressure to Produce More

Nearly nine in 10 women in technology are experiencing burnout, with artificial intelligence adding to pressure on employees to produce more work in less time, a new report has found. While 62% of respondents said AI made their workloads more manageable, 42% reported increased expectations to deliver more.

The findings come from Ensono's 2026 Speak Up report, which surveyed 1,500 women across the US, UK and India. Overall, 87% reported experiencing some level of burnout, while 60% described themselves as moderately, very or extremely burned out. The research highlights how AI adoption is changing workplace expectations, alongside other pressures affecting women in the technology sector.

AI Productivity Comes With New Pressure

The report found that 70% of respondents considered their AI knowledge and skills to be advanced or expert. Meanwhile, 97% could identify at least one career benefit from using the technology.

Despite these benefits, AI adoption appears to be creating additional workplace demands. Some 42% said they were expected to produce more work in less time when using AI, even as 62% reported that the technology made their workloads more manageable.

The findings point to a tension between AI-driven efficiency and rising productivity expectations: technology may help employees manage their workloads, but those gains can also lead to demands for greater output.

AI is not the only factor contributing to the strain. The survey found that 34% of respondents felt pressure to remain constantly available for work. A further 43% identified the need to continually develop new skills to remain competitive as a concern.

These expectations can make it harder for employees to switch off, particularly when they are also trying to keep pace with emerging technology.

Meredith Graham, Ensono's chief people officer, said: 'Women in technology are developing the AI expertise their organizations need, but continued learning takes time to adjust. With skills confidence continuing to grow, business leaders need to provide clarity on how AI adoption changes work expectations.'

Visibility and Career Ambitions Add to Strain

Beyond AI and skills development, workplace visibility and career progression are adding to the challenges women face. Ensono's report found that 83% of the women surveyed aspired to executive leadership roles, highlighting continued interest in senior positions despite the pressures facing the sector.

Office attendance is another concern. More than half of respondents (53%) said their organisations were asking them to spend more days in the office than a year earlier, while 92% agreed that being visible in person mattered for career advancement.

However, balancing caregiving responsibilities with work was the biggest challenge associated with in-person working, cited by 49% of respondents. These findings suggest that expectations around office attendance and visibility can create additional challenges for women balancing professional and personal responsibilities.

Employers Urged to Rethink Workplace Expectations

Graham said businesses also needed to support different working arrangements and routes to career progression.

'As roles evolve, supporting flexibility and different paths to advancement that help women build lasting careers is fundamental to strengthening business culture,' she added.

The findings raise questions about whether the productivity gains promised by AI will translate into better working conditions for employees. While the technology can make workloads more manageable, employers risk undermining those benefits if faster output simply becomes another expectation.

With 87% of respondents reporting some level of burnout, clearer performance expectations, workplace flexibility and support for continuous skills development could help make technology careers more sustainable for women.