Summary
Some tech firms are adopting a demanding work culture where employees work long hours, often around 72 hours a week. This approach, known as the "996 culture," is seen as necessary to keep up with the fast-paced development of artificial intelligence (AI). Rilla, an AI-focused company in New York, is an example of a business embracing this work style to ensure rapid progress.
Key Facts
- A New York-based tech company called Rilla encourages employees to work about 70 hours a week.
- The company promotes a fast-paced work environment similar to China's "996 culture," where people work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week.
- This culture is popular in tech due to the rapid development and competition in artificial intelligence.
- Rilla seeks employees with high ambition and likens them to "Olympian athletes."
- The 996 work style started in China about ten years ago and was promoted by tech leaders like Jack Ma from Alibaba.
- The 996 culture led to criticism in China for ignoring labor laws, which resulted in tighter regulations.
- Despite criticisms, some companies believe the long hours are a "blessing" for achieving success quickly in competitive tech markets.
