Even OpenAI couldn’t escape burnout: What the shutdown says about young tech workers facing 80-hour weeks

OpenAI mandates a company-wide shutdown in July due to severe employee burnout from intense work pressures and talent poaching by competitors like Meta. This move highlights a growing industry-wide issue where relentless productivity demands lead to strategic risks, including potential brain drain and significant intellectual capital loss. The situation prompts a re-evaluation of hustle culture and its sustainability.