There’s a growing trend among AI startups of adopting the “9-9-6” schedule—working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—in exchange for elevated pay. The model promises financial rewards and intense immersion in tech culture, attracting people eager to make rapid progress and build cutting-edge products.

Those who sign up get compensated well, often with bonuses, equity, and the prestige of working in frontier sectors. The “you’ll be paid rather well” promise becomes the lure for many ambitious employees who weigh pay vs. work hours. However, behind the bright promise are shadows: burnout risk, blurred boundaries between personal life and work, and physical and mental health consequences. Long stretches of work also challenge things like family obligations, rest, and work-life balance.

Critics argue that this kind of hustle culture glorifies endurance over sustainability. Even when the pay is good, the cost in terms of sleep, relationships, and well-being can accumulate fast. Supporters counter that some employees find purpose or passion in high-pressure environments.

Ultimately, this trend raises a key question: when does high compensation justify extreme working hours and at what point does high pay become insufficient compensation for exhausting schedules? For many, it’s a choice between fast-track progress and long-term health.