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xAI Engineer’s 19-Hour Shift Post Fuels Fresh Scrutiny of Tech Work Culture

Reaction centered on Elon Musk’s well-known push for “hardcore” hours.

Overview

  • Giri Kuncoro said he closed his laptop at 5:30 am after a 19-hour day, calling it his longest at xAI and adding that he had “never felt more alive.”
  • His post on X drew broad criticism over health risks, with commenters saying it was “not a flex” and warning of burnout.
  • Some users praised his commitment or shared similar experiences, revealing divided views on extreme work schedules.
  • Reports framed the episode against Musk’s advocacy for intense workloads, including his view that world-changing work exceeds 40 hours a week.
  • An outlet counted roughly 90,000 views for the post at the time of reporting, and no response or policy change from xAI was reported.