Cognitive Fatigue and Information Overload: The Side Effects of AI at Work
Luc Vachon
AI use at work can cause mental exhaustion by increasing interruptions and information overload. This fatigue reduces focus, creativity, and confidence in decision-making. Simple steps like setting distraction-free time and limiting AI use help protect our thinking and teamwork.
14 Mar 2026
Recent research highlights a strong correlation between prolonged interaction with AI systems and increased information overload, mental fatigue, and attention strain. In short: the more we are assisted, the more our cognitive system is taxed, sometimes to the point of depletion.
A third lever involves establishing cognitive “offline” spaces. A room without screens—where brainstorming happens on paper for twenty minutes—helps produce thinking that is less scattered. AI intervenes only after, to format or enrich what the team has imagined. This alternation helps regulate cognitive load.