Amid the global rise of artificial intelligence tools reshaping work and jobs, a Mumbai-based tech startup founder has highlighted a lesser-known effect of AI on productivity. He drew attention to a productivity paradox:
people who rely heavily on AI can sometimes experience delays in completing tasks.
The founder observed this phenomenon in his own workflow. Tasks that he previously finished in 30 minutes now sometimes take two hours, while work that once required a full two-hour focused session is now completed in just 30 minutes. This shift underscores the complex ways AI is influencing human efficiency and time management.
Mumbai Tech Startup Founder On AI
“What used to take me 30 minutes now takes me 2 hours with AI. Also, what used to take me 2 hours now takes me 30 minutes with AI,” shared the tech startup founder about the work patterns he has observed since the advancement of artificial intelligence tools.
What used to take me 30 minutes now takes me 2 hours with AI.
Also, what used to take me 2 hours now takes me 30 minutes with AI.
— Mustafa Yusuf (@mufasaYC) March 8, 2026
The post struck a chord online with other tech professionals, who recognised similar patterns around their workplaces. One techie called it the “debugging paradox”, where even as AI helps software developers get cleaner code upfront, second-guessing every response generated ends up still consuming more time.
How Would A 30-Minute Task Take 2 Hours With AI?
As the unique AI phenomenon highlighted by the tech startup founder gained attention, more people flocked to the comments section to weigh in on why he might be experiencing it. One user suggested that AI tools may have redistributed effort for developers rather than eliminated it entirely. While the tedious parts of a developer’s work now happen faster, tasks like framing prompts and setting up contexts can still take significantly longer.
“The debugging paradox. Used to ship fast with bad code, now AI helps you write it right, but you second-guess every suggestion,” said one person.
Someone else wrote, “AI is great at the 30-minute tasks because they’re well-defined. The 2-hour tasks were slow because they were ambiguous, and now you’re just arguing with the model instead of thinking.”
“The 2-hour tasks are where verification matters most. Anyone can prompt fast code – knowing what’s broken is the real skill now,” commented an individual.
Beyond coding, debugging, and other technical tasks, there’s a human element at play. People often tend to tackle longer, more demanding work first, leaving shorter tasks for later. Whatever the cause, one thing is clear: AI is reshaping the way we work and transforming the world as we know it.
