AI workload – Misryoum reports data showing more late and weekend meal orders as companies push AI adoption, raising questions about longer work hours.
A surge in late-night and weekend office meal orders is emerging as an unexpected clue about how AI is reshaping white-collar work.
Misryoum found that corporate meal ordering patterns are shifting alongside the AI push inside many companies. where the promise is typically faster and more efficient output.. Instead. the signals from employee behavior point toward a different outcome: more activity outside traditional working hours. as employees reportedly extend the day to keep up with workloads.
In this context. Misryoum reports that a corporate meal benefits and delivery platform saw orders placed on Saturdays more than double in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025.. It also noted that weekday orders placed after 6 pm and weekend activity rose sharply. even as the overall number of users grew.
This kind of timing matters because it acts like a proxy for when work is happening. If AI is truly reducing time pressures, companies might expect fewer late-day requests rather than a stronger pull after hours.
Meanwhile, the broader narrative around AI adoption complicates the picture.. Misryoum describes how several firms citing AI-related workforce changes have also moved to raise expectations for measurable performance. including by tying AI usage to evaluations that can affect compensation and promotions.. When that pressure increases. even incremental efficiency gains can be absorbed into the amount of work employees are asked to deliver.
Misryoum also highlights research-backed arguments that AI may complement rather than replace human labor. leading employees to take on broader tasks and spend more time producing and refining results.. In day-to-day terms. that can mean reviewing outputs. correcting errors. and fitting new tools into existing workflows. especially during the early transition period when teams are still learning how to use the technology well.
Misryoum notes that employees may also end up working longer due to practical friction: AI systems can introduce mistakes that require human verification. and time spent troubleshooting or improving integration can reduce the immediate productivity benefits many companies expect.. Even when AI speeds up drafting or analysis. the overall workload may not shrink if organizations respond by expanding the scope of what needs to be completed.
Ultimately, the late-night order pattern Misryoum points to is less about pizza and more about work design. If AI adoption is changing not only how tasks are done but also how much gets done, employees may feel the shift through their schedules rather than through explicit policy changes.
description: In 2025, Misryoum reports more late-night and weekend office meal orders tied to AI adoption, suggesting workloads may be expanding rather than shrinking.