In the AI gold rush, tech firms are embracing 72-hour weeks
bbc.com
February 9, 2026
13 min read
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46/100
Summary
Tech firms in the AI sector are adopting 72-hour workweeks to meet demand. Job advertisements promote competitive compensation and various perks while warning potential employees about the intense work expectations.
Key Takeaways
- Tech firms are adopting a 72-hour work week culture, emphasizing long hours as part of their operational model.
- Rilla, a New York-based tech company, promotes a "996" work culture, expecting employees to work from 9am to 9pm, six days a week.
- The rapid development of artificial intelligence is driving companies to prioritize speed and long working hours to stay competitive.
- The "996" work culture, originally popularized in China, has faced backlash for violating labor laws and neglecting employee wellbeing.
Coverage & discussions
Hacker News · bbc.com
Community discussions
Community Sentiment
Concerns
- The culture of demanding long hours in tech leads to burnout, which ultimately causes valuable employees to leave, harming company performance.
- Measuring performance by hours spent in the office is misguided; productivity should be evaluated based on results, not time.
- Overworking employees results in diminishing returns, where the mistakes made due to exhaustion outweigh any productivity gains.
- The trend of long work hours in tech is indicative of a deeper issue, as companies that embrace this culture tend to underperform.
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