Jevons Burnout
The AI productivity boom might trap us in endless work, not free time.
Deep Dive
A viral LessWrong post warns that AI's impact may follow the 'Jevons paradox,' where efficiency gains increase total work, not leisure. If AI makes human labor incredibly productive, the opportunity cost of *not* working becomes immense. The author describes a personal 'burnout' scenario, choosing to manage AI agents over watching the Super Bowl, suggesting we're already entering a world where hyper-productivity makes leisure feel unaffordable.
Why It Matters
This reframes the AI jobs debate, suggesting the biggest risk isn't unemployment but a societal shift towards compulsive, AI-augmented overwork.