Why AI Productivity Tools Are Causing Burnout with Sasikanth Battula

Send us Fan Mail AI isn’t only changing jobs, it’s changing what it feels like to be competent at work. When every week brings a new tool, a new mandate to reskill, and a new expectation to ship more, many of us start to quietly panic: why am I exhausted if AI is supposed to make this easier? We sit down with Sasikanth Battula, a 30-year Silicon Valley AI pioneer and founder of the Ola AI platform, to name what’s really happening and to give it language you can use. We dig into the three traps behind AI burnout: the treadmill of endless output, the loss of friction that builds resilience, and the identity crisis that hits when a machine can do your “core skill” in seconds. Sasikanth introduces the orchestration gap, the growing divide between executing routine tasks and taking radical accountability for outcomes. We talk about why intent and context still matter more than clever prompting, why critical evaluation is now a career skill, and why accountability cannot be automated no matter how fast generative AI gets. The conversation also gets practical. We explore the line between delegating labour and delegating judgment, the “human API trap” of copy-pasting model output, and how to keep your instincts sharp. Sasikanth’s simplest reframe is memorable: treat AI like a junior intern, brilliant at times and reckless at others. We close with boundaries for high performance without burnout, including protecting human relationships and building real cognitive hygiene. If you’ve felt like you’re falling behind, this is your reminder that the gap isn’t “you”, it’s the system. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s burning out, and leave a review with the one AI habit you’re trying to change. Support the show Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? 👉  DM me on PodMatch  💬 Want to come on the show? Be a Guest  🌐 Explore the full network  | 📨 Newsletter | 👥 LinkedIn Community This isn't self-help. It's self-honesty. 💼 Sponsor Our Show | 🎬 Check Our Services Intro Music Credit: Lumen Sound | Dmitrii Kolesnikov | Pixabay  📌 Disclaimer This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. Guest views are personal and do not represent the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify or endorse guest statements. Nothing here is medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional. Engage critically. Third-party content referenced under fair use. Guests are responsible for their own statements. Concerns? ...