ActivTrak analyzed digital activity from more than 9,000 employees across 467 companies.
Its study found that AI-tool users worked 8.4–9.1 hours per day on average, versus 7.6 for non-users.
Among software engineers, app switching averaged 0.6 times per hour, with 78.5% of active time spent in core programming applications.
The findings are observational and do not show that AI use caused longer workdays.
ActivTrak examined the digital activity of more than 9.000 employees at 467 companies from April 1 to September 25, 2026. Employees who used AI tools worked an average of 8,4 to 9,1 hours per day. For those who didn’t use them, the average was 7,6 hours.
The company defined heavy users as those who used AI tools for more than 45 minutes, in at least five sessions per day. They worked 18 minutes more after-hours than those who didn't use the tools. They also switched apps more frequently and had shorter attention spans.
Meetings took up a smaller portion of the day for heavy users: 3%, compared to 5% for those who did not use AI tools.
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Heavy users included software engineers and business operations managers. Software engineers spent 78,5% of their active time in core programming applications and switched applications an average of 0,6 times per hour.
Business operations managers were the most likely to use browser-based AI tools. They spent 75,5% of their active time in core applications and switched applications an average of 1,1 times per hour. During periods of intense coordination, the number of changes reached 4,1 per hour.
Gabriela Mauch, head of the Productivity Lab and chief customer service officer at ActivTrak, said that AI can help get tasks done faster. However, research has shown that its use is associated with longer work days, more frequent application switching and shorter attention spans. Mauch added that businesses need to link the use of AI to measurable benefits in productivity, efficiency and business performance.
A Gartner report released a few days ago found that only 3% of organizations achieved productivity, efficiency, and cost reduction goals through AI. Three-quarters of the leaders surveyed expected AI to have a significant impact on their organizations. 85% planned to increase spending on AI by 2027, while 38% said they had already exceeded their budget.
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