The killer stat: the correlation between "AI is replacing parts of my job" and layoff worry is essentially zero (r = +0.05). The replacement narrative dominates headlines but the real fear is the squeeze in that every productivity gain instantly becoming the new baseline.
That reframes the manager finding too: if manager quality is still the biggest burnout lever, the leadership test of 2026 is whether saved time gets returned to people or pocketed as higher expectations. Curious whether next year's survey shows any companies passing that test.
Really appreciated these studies - keep them going!
The optimism/pessimism gaps by profession make a lot of sense - if you’re a founder or exec you’re in control of who keeps their job and you tend to make more. Chances are you’re safer financially than everyone else.
Which sucks. Most of us aren’t in roles like that but are subject to others in power making decisions about our lives.
Which kind of feels like the vibe of AI populism in general these days.
Sad because we are not properly addressing this, and even if people DO feel joy and excitement here, it's also a massive failure for organizations that people are burning out. I wonder what the long-term consequences of this will be?
Energized by it because I think we can fix it (we need to) and that there's still so much work left to do here. And that we _need_ to talk leadership more than ever before. What's a good manager? How do we train people to be good managers in this era? How do they act? How do they care? How do they distribute work?
Torn by the study, but thankful that you did it again.
@Lenny and team - thanks again for everything you do. This is a great set of insights, especially for us executives who are deeply thinking about the effects even as things barrel ahead.
The killer stat: the correlation between "AI is replacing parts of my job" and layoff worry is essentially zero (r = +0.05). The replacement narrative dominates headlines but the real fear is the squeeze in that every productivity gain instantly becoming the new baseline.
That reframes the manager finding too: if manager quality is still the biggest burnout lever, the leadership test of 2026 is whether saved time gets returned to people or pocketed as higher expectations. Curious whether next year's survey shows any companies passing that test.
Really appreciated these studies - keep them going!
The optimism/pessimism gaps by profession make a lot of sense - if you’re a founder or exec you’re in control of who keeps their job and you tend to make more. Chances are you’re safer financially than everyone else.
Which sucks. Most of us aren’t in roles like that but are subject to others in power making decisions about our lives.
Which kind of feels like the vibe of AI populism in general these days.
I hear you. Wishing everyone, founders and non-founders the best. Hopefully things work out well for all of us!
I'm both saddened and energized reading this.
Sad because we are not properly addressing this, and even if people DO feel joy and excitement here, it's also a massive failure for organizations that people are burning out. I wonder what the long-term consequences of this will be?
Energized by it because I think we can fix it (we need to) and that there's still so much work left to do here. And that we _need_ to talk leadership more than ever before. What's a good manager? How do we train people to be good managers in this era? How do they act? How do they care? How do they distribute work?
Torn by the study, but thankful that you did it again.
Really appreciate that thoughtful take. And choosing to be energized and put in the work!
Good piece. Thanks. “Smiling exhaustion”
Good time to get that Oura ring, a good mattress, some blackout curtains, and SLEEP!
haha yeah. and just get out of X for a bit.
@Lenny and team - thanks again for everything you do. This is a great set of insights, especially for us executives who are deeply thinking about the effects even as things barrel ahead.