AI: 95% Have Time Off, But Pressure Remains High

Employees in AI report navigating a widely accepted right to vacation while facing a demanding work pace. As workers from labs like OpenAI and Anthropic engage online about their holidays, companies remain silent. Industry data quantifies access to paid days off, while testimonials describe an "unmanageable" flow of news. In 2018, Sam Altman already acknowledged working almost all the time.

Available Leave, a Described Exhausting Pace

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 95% of information workers have paid leave. Tech companies offer an average of 19.8 days per year. At the same time, tech professionals report facing intense schedules and an unceasing stream of AI-related updates. Some software engineers adopt the 996 model, working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week, and abstaining from alcohol. Under this pressure, taking a trip can be relegated to the bottom of the priority list, and some avoid traveling for fear of losing track. AI professionals feel that keeping up with the news is overwhelming; one compared the experience to "drinking from a fire hose, and the hose keeps growing."

Playful Exchanges Among Employees, and Silence from Management

In the comments of a public discussion, employees from OpenAI and Anthropic confronted their vacation practices. An Anthropic employee recounted a stay at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, while an OpenAI employee saw this as a sign that he too should take a break. Leo Gao explained that he tends to let work invade his life and feels at home at OpenAI. Jason Liu from OpenAI sought the opinion of Thariq Shihipar from Anthropic, who jokingly replied, "Aren't you always on vacation?" Participants broadened the discussion to include Meta and Google DeepMind; Alex Imas at Google DeepMind shared that he is still trying to grasp the "concept of vacation" after leaving academia. Investor Angel Kevin Wimer mentioned SpaceXAI, suggesting that "they don't sleep." OpenAI and Anthropic did not respond to requests for comment.

Call for Rest and Uncertain Comparisons Between Labs

Former policy research director at OpenAI, Miles Brundage emphasized that "rest is important." He suggested on X that some AI labs might be more inclined than others to grant vacations, while noting that it is difficult to make a clear comparison between Anthropic and OpenAI regarding leave usage. Brundage indicated that his central message aimed to remind everyone of the importance of rest. Summer, a time for out-of-office messages, revives these questions even more.

What Sam Altman Said in 2018

In 2018, Sam Altman described himself as a "bad example of work-life balance." He explained at WIRED25: "I try to take vacations." He added, "But the rest of the time, I just work."