Can AI Help Us Achieve Work-Life Balance?

The struggle to define work-life balance shows no sign of resolution. From Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy advocating for a 70-hour workweek to the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan suggesting 90-hour workweeks, the pressure to dedicate more time to work can seem relentless. Amid these discussions, the entry of artificial intelligence (AI) raises an important question: Can AI help us achieve a sustainable work-life balance?

Recently, Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of OLA, added a fresh twist to the conversation when he said on X, “Training AI to work like me so that I can find work-life balance!”

Is Aggarwal hinting at the potential of AGI, or is he underscoring the role of AI in alleviating the burdens of multitasking?

New Definition Work-Life Balance

In an exclusive conversation with AIM, Ankush Sabharwal, founder of CoRover, emphasised the need to rethink work-life balance. “Maintaining harmony between work and personal life is crucial, but it’s time to redefine what we mean by ‘work-life balance’. Rather than striving for a rigid separation between work and life, or simply working less or more, we should aim for synergy and harmony.”

Sabharwal highlighted how AI has the potential to revolutionise productivity and well-being by automating routine tasks, thereby freeing up valuable time for high-impact activities. He mentioned that AI can provide personalised insights, which can enable individuals to make data-driven decisions to prioritise schedules and goals effectively. Additionally, AI fosters enhanced productivity by allowing people to focus on work that aligns with their personal values and purpose.

“With AI, we can redefine what it means to be productive and fulfilled. It’s no longer about juggling multiple tasks or sacrificing personal time. Instead, AI provides actionable insights, enabling us to prioritise what truly matters, nurture relationships, and enhance overall well-being,” Sabharwal added.

AI will not Replace Humans

As organisations increasingly integrate AI into their operations, the technology is proving to be a powerful enabler rather than a replacement for human judgment. By automating repetitive tasks and streamlining processes, AI empowers teams to focus on meaningful work and foster a healthier work-life balance.

Apurv Agrawal, CEO and co-founder of SquadStack, highlighted this transformative impact and told AIM, “At Squadstack, AI handles tasks such as agent training, task assignments, and performance management, empowering our agents to focus on personal growth. By automating administrative tasks, we’ve created a healthier work-life balance for our teams,” 

Praveer Kochhar, co-founder of Kogo Tech Labs, shared his organisation’s vision of realising human potential with the help of AI. “Internally, we are integrating automation and agentic workflows to streamline processes. By March, we aim to be the first company in India to adopt a four-day workweek, with remaining tasks managed by automated workflows,” he revealed. 

Kochhar also cited a LinkedIn poll that showed saving time as the most significant advantage offered by AI.

Source: LinkedIn

However, some companies like Accenture and Zoho declined to comment on the matter. 

What’s Next?

The potential of AI to enhance personal productivity has also been a focal point for influencers. Last year, Priyank Ahuja, a self-proclaimed career guru, shared on X, “ChatGPT and Canva will help you earn an extra $15,000/month.”

In a conversation with AIM, Ahuja explained that his claim was backed by feedback from professionals who use tools like Canva daily for tasks such as designing T-shirts, creating Instagram ads, and making YouTube Shorts. These tools, he explained, are powered by AI and enable individuals to work smarter, not harder.

Source: X

This sentiment resonates with young creators like 19-year-old artist Ashok Reddy, who, during a conversation with AIM, shared that he sold around 100 AI-generated art pieces in just two days. His breakdown was selling A4-size pieces for INR 400 and A3-size pieces for INR 700. 

Notably, he has gathered all the knowledge required for this through online resources without attending any college courses. He recommended using Midjourney and highlighted the inspiration and learning opportunities provided by platforms like Twitter and other online communities. 

The mantra “work smart, not hard” suggests that AI has the potential to reshape our approach to productivity and help us save time.