fortune.com · 19 Sep, 07:02 · Artificial Intelligence briefing

Scale AI and Passes founder Lucy Guo says AI is making people work harder, not less: ‘I worked a 26-hour day’

Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI and Passes, reports that artificial intelligence is currently intensifying workloads rather than reducing them.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Lucy Guo, co-founder of Scale AI and Passes, reports that artificial intelligence is currently intensifying workloads rather than reducing them. She cites a personal example of working a twenty-six-hour day, suggesting that AI tools often create additional management overhead. This perspective challenges the narrative of immediate automation-driven leisure, highlighting instead a transitional phase where professionals must oversee and integrate complex AI systems. The story underscores the reality that adopting new technology often demands greater human effort initially, requiring workers to adapt to increased cognitive and operational demands rather than experiencing an instant reduction in labour hours.

Employer demand for Project Management skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift means you must prioritise efficiency over mere output volume. As AI adds layers of complexity, skills in workflow optimisation and critical oversight become premium assets. You should focus on mastering the strategic integration of these tools rather than passive usage. Professionals who can streamline processes and manage AI-generated noise will thrive, while those overwhelmed by tool fatigue will struggle. Actively audit your daily tasks to identify where AI creates friction, then redesign your workflow to mitigate this. Develop strong project management capabilities to coordinate human-AI interactions effectively. Ultimately, your value lies in your ability to direct these systems intelligently, ensuring they serve your objectives without consuming your limited energy reserves.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Project Management, AI Strategy, Business And Management and Artificial Intelligence — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
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These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.