It’s a strange kind of exhaustion, isn’t it? Not the kind that comes from a long day’s work, but a deeper, more pervasive weariness that seems to settle in when we think about… well, everything. And increasingly, that ‘everything’ includes artificial intelligence.
We’re hearing a lot about burnout, of course. The reference material paints a clear picture: chronic psychological and emotional exhaustion, a sense of depersonalization, and a dwindling feeling of accomplishment. It’s a well-documented phenomenon, particularly in demanding professions like nursing, where the constant exposure to suffering, heavy workloads, and staff shortages can take a significant toll. It’s easy to see how confronting human vulnerability day in and day out, especially in contexts like dementia care, could lead to such profound exhaustion.
But what happens when this exhaustion starts to bleed into our interactions with machines? The University of Victoria’s Division of Continuing Studies is offering a course, "A Meta-Relational Approach to AI," that hints at this very idea. It’s designed for those who are grappling with generative AI in ways that challenge what they call "modernity’s extractive programming patterns." This isn't just about learning to use a new tool; it's about questioning the very foundations of how we interact with technology, and perhaps, how technology interacts with us.
Think about it. We’re often told AI is here to help, to streamline, to optimize. Yet, the sheer volume of information, the constant updates, the subtle shifts in how we communicate and create – it can all feel overwhelming. There’s a certain pressure to keep up, to understand, to integrate these new capabilities into our lives and work. And when these systems, designed to be efficient, start to feel like another demand on our already stretched mental and emotional resources, it’s understandable that a new form of burnout might emerge.
This isn't your typical workplace stress. It’s a burnout that arises from our evolving relationship with intelligence itself, whether human or artificial. The "Standing in the Fire Report" mentioned in the course materials seems to touch on this, aiming to hold the weight of engaging with AI beyond conventional boundaries, making space for the contradictions and layered harms that often get overlooked. It suggests that our engagement with AI isn't just an intellectual exercise; it has social, ecological, and psychological dimensions.
Perhaps the exhaustion isn't solely from the AI itself, but from the way it amplifies existing patterns within us and within our societal structures. The "extractive programming patterns" the UVic course refers to might be a clue. Are we, in our drive for efficiency and progress, inadvertently creating systems that mirror our own unsustainable ways of operating? And are we then surprised when we feel drained by them?
This new cohort starting in January 2026 at UVic isn't just about understanding AI; it's about fostering a different kind of engagement. It’s about moving beyond the purely functional and exploring the relational, the ethical, and the deeply human implications of this rapidly advancing technology. It’s a reminder that even as we build more sophisticated machines, our own well-being, our capacity for genuine connection, and our understanding of ourselves remain paramount. The conversation around AI burnout, then, is really a conversation about us.