AI Companies In The U.S. Are Moving To A 70-hour Work Week

A model close to the "996" culture is becoming more and more prominently entrenched in the startup environment.

Amid intensifying competition for investment and the AI market, companies in the U.S. are increasingly reverting to extremely long work schedules of up to 70-72 hours per week. A model akin to the "996" culture - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week - is increasingly taking root in the startup environment, reports BBC.

A prime example of this approach is New York-based Rilla, which develops AI systems to monitor field sales teams. The company's vacancies are designed in the style typical of startups and offer competitive pay, an extended social package and additional bonuses. At the same time, the description explicitly states that applicants should not respond if they are not ready for a 70-hour work week.

Rilla's head of growth Will Gao says that the company is purposefully looking for ambitious employees with high involvement in the result. He says the company does not have a formally rigid schedule: employees can work late and make up for it with a later start to the day. However, extended working hours are considered the norm.

The "996" culture emerged in China in the past decade and was actively promoted, in particular by Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who called such a regime a blessing. Similar practices were applied in other technology corporations, including Baidu, and over time this approach began to expand beyond the Chinese market.

According to the BBC, today elements of "996" are most often manifested precisely in AI startups that are in fierce competition for venture capital. A vigorous influx of investment and high risk of failure are pushing founders to mobilize teams as much as possible. As a result, more and more companies are explicitly stating in job postings that candidates focused on the standard 40-hour week are not suitable for them.

At the same time, the culture of extra-long working hours remains the subject of fierce criticism. Opponents point to the decreased effectiveness of burned-out employees, difficulty attracting experienced professionals with family commitments and long-term risks to business sustainability. Experts note that young founders often mistakenly perceive recycling as a universal path to success.

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