Task Switching, Tool Churn, and AI-Driven Work Intensification: Evidence Review and Regulatory Argument, Version 1.0

Task Switching, Tool Churn, and AI-Driven Work Intensification is a whitepaper that reviews evidence from cognitive psychology, human-computer interaction, information systems, and software engineering on the effects of repeated task switching, interruptions, rapid tool changes, and AI-driven shifts in work expectations. The paper argues that excessive switching and forced adaptation are not neutral signs of agility, but measurable sources of performance loss, higher cognitive load, stress, and burnout risk, especially in software development and other deep-focus work. It further proposes that when AI is used to intensify work rather than reduce human burden, legal and occupational-safety limits on employer practices become defensible. This version is a synthesis-first, citation-ready publication based on peer-reviewed literature and does not include original field data.