Why AI Tools Make Us More Tired, Not Less

AI tools promise efficiency. They automate tasks, speed up work, and reduce effort.

So why do so many people feel more exhausted after using them?

The answer lies in how the brain experiences “help.”

Automation Doesn’t Remove Thinking

AI removes execution, not decision-making.

Instead of doing the task, we now:

• choose prompts • evaluate outputs • compare alternatives • correct mistakes

Each step adds cognitive load.

Every AI suggestion asks a question:

“Is this good enough?” “Should I tweak it?” “Can I trust this?”

The brain treats each as a micro-decision.

Many small decisions drain more energy than one big task.

AI tools constantly respond.

They generate options, variations, and alternatives.

But the human brain prefers closure.

Too many possibilities feel like noise.

AI increases output speed.

But without clear stopping points, work expands.

We don’t stop because the tool never stops.

Efficiency turns into exhaustion.

AI works best when it has boundaries.

Clear goals reduce mental load.

AI should reduce decisions, not multiply them.

The tool isn’t the problem.

How we use it is.