ActivTrak Study Links AI Use to Longer Workdays

Oct 29, 2026
ActivTrak's analysis of 9,140 knowledge workers found that AI users had workdays up to 90 minutes longer than nonusers. Heavy users also switched applications more often and had shorter focus sessions.

ActivTrak said in a press release that AI users had workdays ranging from 8.4 to 9.1 hours, compared with 7.6 hours for nonusers. The analysis covered digital work patterns from 9,140 knowledge workers at 467 companies between April 1 and September 25, 2026.

Heavy AI users averaged 1.1 application switches per hour, 15.2% more than nonusers. Their uninterrupted focus sessions averaged 37.8 minutes, compared with 48.2 minutes for light users. Heavy users also spent an additional 18 minutes working after hours each day.

Workers using AI within their primary applications averaged 0.6 application switches per hour. Those using AI through browsers switched applications as often as 4.2 times per hour, compared with 0.95 times for workers who did not use AI.

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