The Tech Firms Embracing a 72-Hour Working Week
Thursday, 2026/02/12153 words2 minutes579 reads
A growing number of tech companies are embracing "996" culture - working from 9am to 9pm, six days a week. Some firms now openly advertise 70-hour work weeks as a requirement for employment.
Rilla, a New York AI company, warns job applicants not to apply unless they're excited about working approximately 70 hours weekly. The company offers competitive pay and benefits like free meals and healthcare. Will Gao, Rilla's head of growth, says they seek people like "Olympian athletes" with obsession and infinite ambition.
This trend originated in China a decade ago, championed by billionaires like Jack Ma of Alibaba, who called 996 a "huge blessing." However, Chinese authorities cracked down on the practice in 2021 after widespread complaints about labor law violations.
Now the culture has spread to American tech startups racing to develop AI applications. The fear of competitors getting to market first drives companies to demand extreme dedication from employees.
