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“996” means working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week: 72 scheduled hours. A July 2025 report documented the schedule at some U.S. startups, including AI companies, but did not establish that it is typical across the AI sector. For workers weighing a job offer, the distinction between a reported company practice and an industry-wide norm matters—especially when long hours can affect health, pay, and time outside work.
What 996 means—and what the reporting found
The term describes a schedule of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. That is 72 scheduled hours, before accounting for any commute or work outside those hours. WIRED reported on July 23, 2025, that some U.S. startups, many of them working on AI, were adopting the practice and its nickname, which was first popularized in mainland China. Futurism covered the trend on July 27, 2025. Neither report establishes how common 996 is across AI startups as a whole.
Examples reported in July 2025
- Rilla: WIRED reported that the AI software company said nearly all of its 80-person workforce followed 996. At the time, job listings described expectations of more than 70 hours a week and discouraged applicants who were not enthusiastic about that schedule. These are company statements reported in July 2025; they do not establish Rilla’s current policy.
- Sotira: WIRED quoted CEO Amrita Bhasin saying, “The first two years of your startup, you kind of have to do 996,” while adding that she did not think it was fair to impose the schedule on rank-and-file employees.
- Fella & Delilah: WIRED reported that the San Francisco telehealth company offered volunteers a 25 percent pay increase and a 100 percent increase in equity for working 996. Just under 10 percent signed up, according to the founder’s LinkedIn post cited by WIRED. This was a reported arrangement at one company, not a general compensation practice.
The examples are specific to the companies and reporting dates. They should not be read as proof that all AI startups require 996, or that the named companies still use the same schedules or terms.
Why some workers and founders accept extreme hours
People quoted in WIRED described startup competition, pressure to build quickly, and a culture that celebrates founder-level commitment. Rilla head of growth Will Gao characterized a “strong and growing subculture” among some Gen Z workers who are inspired by stories of entrepreneurs devoting themselves to building companies. Employment and staffing entrepreneur Adrian Kinnersley told WIRED that the schedule was increasingly common among his clients. These are interview accounts and observations, not evidence that longer hours produce better products, higher productivity, or greater odds of company success.
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That distinction matters for a worker considering a demanding role: enthusiasm for a company’s mission or the possibility of equity is not the same as evidence that a 72-hour week will pay off. A schedule’s financial value depends on the actual compensation, the terms of any equity, and the hours and responsibilities the employer expects in practice.
What the health evidence says about long workweeks
In a joint release published May 17, 2021, the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization reported estimates for 2016 attributing 745,000 deaths from stroke and ischemic heart disease to long working hours. The estimate comprised 398,000 stroke deaths and 347,000 heart-disease deaths among people who had worked at least 55 hours a week.
The WHO and ILO said working 55 or more hours weekly was associated with an estimated 35% higher stroke risk and 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease, compared with working 35–40 hours weekly. They also reported a 29% increase in deaths from stroke and ischemic heart disease attributed to long hours between 2000 and 2016. These are population-level estimates, not findings about AI startup employees or proof that a particular person will experience a specific outcome.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “No job is worth the risk of stroke or heart disease.” Maria Neira, WHO Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, said, “Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard.”
How to assess a job offer with unusually long hours
Before accepting a role advertised as intense—or one where the hours are left vague—ask for specific expectations in writing. Compare the complete arrangement, not just the headline salary or equity offer.
- Expected weekly hours: Ask what a typical week looks like, how often late nights occur, and whether the stated schedule includes weekend work.
- Mandatory or voluntary: Clarify whether long hours are a condition of employment, an occasional crunch, or an opt-in arrangement. Ask whether declining extra hours affects performance reviews or advancement.
- Pay and equity: Confirm base pay, any premium for additional hours, and the precise equity terms. Do not treat an equity percentage or increase as cash compensation without understanding its terms and risks.
- Overtime eligibility and classification: Ask how the employer classifies the role and handles overtime. Rules depend on jurisdiction and worker classification.
- Workload and sustainability: Ask how priorities are set, what happens when deadlines conflict, and whether the employer can explain how the workload is expected to remain manageable.
Are 996 schedules legal?
WIRED reported that Kinnersley worried some companies promoting 996 appeared “wildly noncompliant” with U.S. labor laws, including because of possible worker-classification problems. That was his concern in the article, not a court finding or a determination that any named company violated the law. Employment rules depend on jurisdiction and worker classification, and the reporting does not provide a current legal analysis. Anyone assessing a specific job should consult current government guidance or a qualified employment lawyer for the relevant jurisdiction.
On China, WIRED reported that authorities cracked down in 2021 on the widespread 996 practice, which the article described as technically illegal but seldom enforced before the crackdown. That account does not establish the current enforcement status.
Quick Recap
Sources
- WIRED, “Silicon Valley AI Startups Are Embracing China’s Controversial ‘996’ Work Schedule,” July 23, 2025.
- Futurism, “AI Startups Are Making Their Employees Work Hours That Will Make You Break Out in a Cold Sweat,” July 27, 2025.
- World Health Organization and International Labour Organization, “Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke: WHO, ILO,” May 17, 2021.
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