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12-hour days, no weekends: the anxiety driving AI’s brutal work culture is a warning for all of us
San Francisco's AI startup ecosystem is fostering an intense work culture characterized by 12-hour days and seven-day work weeks, with founders and employees reporting the complete abandonment of work-life balance. The trend, described using terms like '996' and 'grindcore,' reflects broader competitive pressures in the AI economy. Observers warn this culture may soon spread beyond the tech sector to other industries as AI competition intensifies.