A viral put up by an engineer at xAI has reignited a worldwide debate over lengthy working hours within the tech trade, reviving questions on productiveness, burnout and the tradition of relentless work that has come to outline elements of the fashionable startup ecosystem.
The dialog started when Giri Kuncoro, a software program engineer on the synthetic intelligence firm based by Elon Musk, shared an replace on X (formally twitter) describing his unusually lengthy workday. Kuncoro, who works on cloud-native infrastructure supporting AI workloads and beforehand labored at TikTok, wrote that he had simply completed a 19-hour stretch at work.
“It’s 5:30 am. Simply closed my laptop computer after 19 hours of work at present, my longest at xAI to this point. I’ve by no means felt more alive,” he posted on X.
In a observe up put up he wrote, “It’s 9pm on the workplace on my first day, nonetheless pairing with my teammates. Love the excessive vitality and depth! Trying ahead to constructing many nice issues on this rocketship. Can’t watch for the upcoming Saturday hackathon at London workplace on my first week.”
The message shortly went viral, triggering hundreds of reactions and highlighting the deep divide over whether or not extraordinarily lengthy working hours needs to be admired or criticised.
Reward and pushback on-line
Some customers applauded the engineer’s dedication and the importance of the work being accomplished in synthetic intelligence. Supporters argued that constructing transformative know-how typically requires intervals of extraordinary dedication.
One consumer wrote that the work being accomplished may have a serious societal impression, including that groups engaged on superior AI methods have been “real-life superheroes.”
Nonetheless, many others have been much less enthusiastic. Critics argued that the put up mirrored a rising pattern in tech tradition the place excessive work schedules are handled as a badge of honour somewhat than a possible well being danger.
A number of customers identified that productiveness typically will depend on sustainable routines somewhat than marathon work classes. One commenter wrote that getting ample sleep and sustaining bodily health may in the end result in higher efficiency than extended workdays.
Others warned concerning the lengthy-time period dangers of burnout, suggesting that repeatedly working such lengthy hours may hurt psychological well being, cognitive efficiency and bodily effectively-being.
Wider debate over ‘hustle tradition’
The blended responses mirror a broader debate round what is commonly referred to as “hustle tradition” — a mindset that celebrates fixed productiveness, lengthy hours and intense dedication because the pathway to success.
In excessive-stress industries corresponding to synthetic intelligence and startups, this tradition has change into more and more seen as firms race to construct new applied sciences and seize market share. Workers in such environments typically face tight deadlines, intense competitors and quickly evolving technical challenges.
Whereas some professionals say these circumstances create a way of pleasure and goal, critics argue they will normalise unhealthy work habits and unrealistic expectations.
Musk’s feedback on excessive work hours
The viral dialogue additionally introduced renewed consideration to previous feedback from Musk about intense work schedules throughout vital moments in his firms’ historical past.
In July 2025, Musk posted on X that he was returning to a demanding routine. “Again to working 7 days per week and sleeping within the workplace if my little children are away,” he wrote.
In a 2018 interview Musk described working extraordinarily lengthy hours throughout a tough interval for Tesla. In keeping with Musk, he spent a lot of that point contained in the manufacturing unit, working immediately on manufacturing. “Seven days per week, sleeping within the manufacturing unit. I labored within the paint store, meeting line and physique store,” he stated.
But Musk additionally acknowledged that such schedules are usually not sustainable in the long term. Reflecting on that interval, he stated, “Nobody ought to put this many hours into work. This isn’t good. Individuals mustn’t work this difficult.”
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