# Are We Automating the Joy Out of Work? Designing AI to Augment Work, Not Meaning

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.14963 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.14963/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 16 Mar 2026.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Beyond the Org Chart: AI and the Transformation of Invisible Work](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.22707/) (2026)
- [Will AI Agents Free Us From Meaningless Work? A Human-Centered Analysis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.12430/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Prior work has mapped which workplace tasks are exposed to AI, but less is known about whether workers perceive these tasks as meaningful or as busywork. We examined: (1) which dimensions of meaningful work do workers associate with tasks exposed to AI; and (2) how do the traits of existing AI systems compare to the traits workers want. We surveyed workers and developers on a representative sample of 171 tasks and use language models (LMs) to scale ratings to 10,131 computer-assisted tasks across all U.S. occupations. Worryingly, we find that tasks that workers associate with a sense of agency or happiness may be disproportionately exposed to AI. We also document design gaps: developers report emphasizing politeness, strictness, and imagination in system design; by contrast, workers prefer systems that are straightforward, tolerant, and practical. To address these gaps, we call for AI whose design explicitly focuses on meaningful work and worker needs, proposing a five-part research agenda.