From Automation to Intention: Finding Focus and Fulfillment in a

Mobile, AI-Driven World

Jie Li Alexandra Diening
Human-AI Symbiosis Alliance Human-AI Symbiosis Alliance
Schwyz, Switzerland Schwyz, Switzerland
[email protected] [email protected]

Figure 1: Trapped in screens versus fulfilled by handsa

a Image generated by Freepik AI Image Generator using the prompt: “a 30-year-old female with dark hair in a split scene, on the left sitting at a desk in a dark room full of video calls,
on the right smiling while decorating cakes in a bright kitchen, contrasting digital fatigue with hands-on fulfillment”

Abstract also workers’ sense of clarity and fulfillment. Through three illus-
In mobile, AI-enhanced work environments, many professionals trative examples from industry, we underscore the need to redesign
find themselves both empowered and overwhelmed. While automa- work with intention. This perspective encourages readers to re-
tion promises to save time, conversations with designers, analysts, consider how presence, rhythm, and small rituals can help restore
and managers reveal a different reality: expectations accelerate, attention and satisfaction in an age of constant connectivity.
interruptions multiply, and the space for focused, meaningful work
continues to shrink. This article draws on real-world experiences CCS Concepts
and workplace reflections to explore the paradox of digital produc- • Human-centered computing → Ubiquitous and mobile devices;
tivity. We examine how fragmented attention, notification overload, User models.
and performance pressure are reshaping not only workflows but
Keywords
Human-Centered AI, Mobile Work and Productivity, Attention
Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or Management, Workplace Well-being
classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed
for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation ACM Reference Format:
on the first page. Copyrights for third-party components of this work must be honored. Jie Li and Alexandra Diening. 2025. From Automation to Intention: Finding
For all other uses, contact the owner/author(s).
Focus and Fulfillment in a Mobile, AI-Driven World. In Adjunct Proceedings
MobileHCI ’25 Adjunct, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
© 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).
of the 27th International Conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction
ACM ISBN 979-8-4007-1970-7/25/09 (MobileHCI ’25 Adjunct), September 22–25, 2025, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
https://doi.org/10.1145/3737821.3749154 ACM, New York, NY, USA, 4 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3737821.3749154
MobileHCI ’25 Adjunct, September 22–25, 2025, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt Li et al.

1 Introduction AI-based layout generators to accelerate early design stages. At first,

In our hyper-connected, AI-augmented world, distraction is no this freed her from tedious iterations and allowed more time for
longer a side effect of modern life; it has become its central feature. conceptual work. However, in practice, the waiting periods while
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to more remote work and the AI processed her prompts turned into unfocused gaps. “I wait
online meetings has brought screens deeply into our daily routines. maybe 20 seconds up to 5 minutes,” she explained in our interview.
Mobile devices blur the boundaries between work and life, making “I could get up, stretch, or pause to think. But instead, I just click
screen time feel constant and inescapable. For researchers and office into Slack or LinkedIn, or start writing another email. Before I know
workers alike, video calls, emails, and endless notifications define it, I’m juggling four things and finishing none.”
the rhythm of the workday. At the same time, advances in AI, from Over time, Lena began noticing that her sense of accomplishment
large language model (LLM) based writing assistants to vibe coding was diminishing. Her tasks were technically completed faster, but
tools, have accelerated productivity in remarkable ways. However, her satisfaction and focus dwindled. “I’m producing more screens,
paradoxically, this efficiency has not brought more rest or creative more variants, more ideas. But I feel less connected to the process.
space. Instead, it has fragmented our attention even further. It’s like the AI is doing the work, and I’m just reacting.” Her story
We are now at a crossroads. Diening and Kleiner [6] describe this illustrates the paradox of modern work with AI: tools built for
moment as an “AI Renaissance”: a period not just of transformation, liberation can easily become mechanisms of distraction when used
but of reflection. Not just acceleration, but redirection. This captures without intentionality. Lena feels stuck in a liminal space. She
the duality of our moment. We are surrounded by powerful tools. is neither resting nor progressing, but constantly doing things,
But to what end? To reclaim focus and fulfillment, we must shift prompting, generating hundreds of design ideas, yet feeling too
from automation to intention. overwhelmed and distracted to make informed decisions.
Automation prioritizes speed, efficiency, delegation, and output. This resonates with the concept of attention residue [12], which
It optimizes tasks to be completed faster, often with minimal human suggests that every time we switch tasks, some part of our attention
involvement. While this can lead to greater productivity and scala- lingers on the previous one. These residues accumulate, making it
bility, it may also foster a culture of reactive decision-making and harder to focus, complete goals, or feel satisfied with what we have
emotional detachment [11]. When work becomes a series of stream- done. A typical example can be found in short-video social media
lined processes, the richness of human experience, such as curiosity, platforms. Users constantly switch between 10-second videos with
huamn-huamn connection, satisfaction can be sidelined [13]. distinct content, which promotes rapid context-switching and dis-
In contrast, intention emphasizes purpose, reflection, and align- rupts the cognitive stability needed for intentional action. A recent
ment with core values. It invites us to pause and ask: Why are we study by Chiossi et al. [4] demonstrated that engaging with short
doing this task? Does it serve what truly matters? Rather than reject- videos significantly impaired users’ ability to remember and execute
ing automation, an intentional approach seeks to guide it, ensuring planned actions compared to longer videos such as movies. The
that efficiency serves, rather than overrides, human meaning [2]. problem is further worsened by the expectation of being constantly
When we talk about AI bringing “intelligence” into our workflows, available, a cognitive load that limits deep engagement. Theories
we usually mean speed, efficiency, and smart automation. However, such as memory-for-goals [1] show that intentions require mental
processing faster or optimizing better does not guarantee that our rehearsal to be retained, and frequent task-switching interrupts
work is meaningful or aligned with what we truly value. The real this rehearsal process. Recent research by Mark [14] also reveals
challenge is to design workflows that preserve or even enhance pur- that knowledge workers switch screens an average of 566 times a
pose, so technology supports work that is fulfilling and connected day. This micro-switching behavior is mentally taxing and erodes
to our goals. Without this, we risk simply automating busywork the capacity for sustained focus. We already see its effects in the
or chasing meaningless metrics, rather than using AI to help us do business world: employees who are always “on” but rarely present,
what truly matters. outputs that scale but do not satisfy, and strategies that optimize
metrics rather than meaning.
This brings us back to a deeper insight: doing nothing, or doing
2 Refelction 1: The Illusion of Efficiency one thing slowly and well, may actually be the most radical act in
AI promises to save us time, but many knowledge workers are now an age obsessed with optimization.
asking: Where has all the saved time gone? Despite automation,
our days feel fuller, not freer. Nowadays, when we talk with our
colleagues or friends, we often resonate with each other in realizing
that while AI tools take over repetitive tasks, we tend to fill the
3 Reflection 2: Flow, Handwork, and
waiting moments not with rest, but with more screen time: checking Human-Centered Quality Time
emails, scrolling social media, or jumping into another on-screen To reclaim our mental space, we must look beyond digital pro-
task, simply because it is the most convenient thing to do in a brief ductivity to practices that engage the body and restore the mind.
time gap. This habit reflects a deeper issue: we have forgotten how Csikszentmihalyi’s theory of flow [5] describes a psychological
to be idle. The rare mental spaces where ideas once brewed, such state of deep immersion and intrinsic reward, often achieved in
as the quiet moments during a walk or the clarity that strikes in activities that balance challenge with skill. Flow is not exclusive to
the shower, have now been colonized by micro-distractions. work; it can be found in hobbies, sports, music, and handcrafting.
Consider the case of Lena, a mid-career UX designer working Handwork, such as baking, knitting, woodworking, or garden-
in a fast-paced product team. Lena adopted vibe coding tools and ing, has been shown to facilitate flow states and improve mental
From Automation to Intention: Finding Focus and Fulfillment in a Mobile, AI-Driven World MobileHCI ’25 Adjunct, September 22–25, 2025, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

well-being [3]. Henriksen et al. [8] found that engaging in cre- 4 Reflection 3: Empowered but Overloaded:
ative craft activities correlates with reduced anxiety and enhanced Rethinking Mobile and AI Support
mood. These activities demand attention, but not in the fragmented
Microsoft’s 2023 Work Trend Index report [15] reveals that knowl-
way digital tasks do. They encourage sustained engagement, tactile
edge workers spend 57% of their time communicating (via meetings,
feedback, and a sense of completion.
email, and chat) and only 43% creating, based on telemetry data
Consider the case of Jane, a researcher who also works as a
from Microsoft 365 apps. This imbalance highlights how communi-
pastry artist. After a full day of virtual meetings and intense data
cation overload limits opportunities for focused and creative work.
analysis, she turns to baking to find clarity and balance. When
The report also notes that 40% of Microsoft 365 users who are ac-
working alone, she enjoys the calming rhythm of the process. But
tive at 6 a.m. begin their day by checking email [17], and that the
when collaborating with an assistant who handles preparation and
average employee receives 275 notifications per day [18]. While
cleanup, Jane can devote her full attention to the creative aspects
employees may be using AI to generate first drafts or automate
such as decorating, experimenting, and refining. Their shared un-
administrative work, The 2024 Microsoft report [16] highlights that
derstanding of timing, tools, and flow allows the work to progress
expectations have accelerated, placing increased pressure on work-
smoothly, often with little need for verbal instruction. This kind of
ers to stay constantly responsive. Many workers feel that they must
intuitive human-to-human collaboration, built on trust, familiarity,
be “constantly on” to meet demand.
and a mutual sense of rhythm, cannot be replicated by AI. Unlike
Consider the case of Adam, a senior product designer at a
humans, AI requires highly specific and detailed prompts for every
tech company. With the adoption of AI-powered design tools such
step and lacks the ability to pick up on subtle context or unspoken
as generative layout assistants, Adam feels more capable than ever.
cues.
He can now go beyond pixel-level adjustments and take on respon-
The result is not hundreds of ideas generated at machine speed,
sibilities like rapid prototyping and interface logic design—tasks
but a focused, high-quality output that increases significantly through
that previously required close collaboration with developers. “I
optimized teamwork. For Jane, the value lies not just in productiv-
used to be the guy pushing pixels around,” he explained. “But now
ity, but in the joyful, embodied experience of working alongside
I’m implementing front-end code, running user tests, and shaping
another person. It is a powerful reminder that not all productivity
features. I feel like a full-stack creative who doesn’t need to rely on
is digital, and not all value is measured in deliverables. Some of the
developers to move the work forward.” These tools have expanded
most fulfilling and effective work comes from hands-on practice
both his capabilities and his confidence.
and seamless human connection, areas where AI falls short due to
But there is a downside. As his skill set grows, so do expecta-
its lack of presence, intuition, and shared flow.
tions. Adam now receives a steady stream of Slack messages and
Jane’s experience also exemplifies the growing phenomenon of
Jira tickets. Notifications arrive from collaborative whiteboards,
the slash career: a combination of seemingly unrelated professional
feedback bots, and even his own AI tooling assistants notifying him
identities such as designer/photographer or researcher/chef. While
of new iterations. He finds himself constantly switching tasks and
such paths can emerge from economic necessity, they also repre-
be always reachable, rarely reflective. “I’m more productive, but
sent a meaningful response to the pressures of hyper-specialization.
also more distracted,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve had a truly focused
Rather than fragmenting focus, slash careers can form a regenera-
design session in months.”
tive system where distinct roles nourish one another.
Adam’s experience echoes that of knowledge workers in other
In Jane’s case, her background in scientific research shapes the
domains such as finance, healthcare, and retail, where AI-powered
precision and structure she brings to complex and delicate cake
dashboards and real-time alerts are becoming the norm. These dash-
decoration. She approaches each design with a mindset of exper-
boards are interactive interfaces that display performance metrics
imentation, iteration, and attention to detail. In turn, the act of
and key data points, often using AI to analyze patterns, gener-
baking offers more than just creative satisfaction. It becomes a
ate predictions, or trigger automated alerts. Although they are
source of metaphor, material, and emotional grounding for her
intended to improve decision-making and performance, in practice
research. After a baking session, she returns to cognitively demand-
they often result in notification overload. Harris and Tayler [7]
ing tasks such as writing or data analysis with renewed focus and
describe this as surrogation, a phenomenon where organizations
mental clarity. Her scientific and artistic practices, though seem-
begin to mistake metrics for strategy. Instead of fostering deeper in-
ingly unrelated, nourish each other in a continuous and reciprocal
sight, dashboards demand constant reaction. In such environments,
rhythm.
knowledge workers frequently report high anxiety and low job sat-
Research supports this dynamic. Kaufman and Beghetto [10]
isfaction, spending more time responding to alerts than engaging
work on “little-c” creativity demonstrates that everyday creative
in thoughtful, strategic work.
practices can improve problem solving and build emotional re-
In both cases, the tools enable more complex, higher-value tasks.
silience. These activities do not simply fill the time; they restore
But without intentional workflow redesign, they introduce new
depth, clarity, and presence. Creativity does not always emerge
forms of cognitive burden. Just as knowledge workers report shift-
from speed or scale. Sometimes, it grows from slowness, from lim-
ing from weekly catch-up sessions to a culture of hyper-responsiveness,
its, from doing one thing deeply.
where they feel constant pressure to reply immediately to every
message or alert, designers like Adam begin to experience a form
of performance theater, where appearing busy and reactive takes
MobileHCI ’25 Adjunct, September 22–25, 2025, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt Li et al.

priority over doing thoughtful, meaningful work. The boundary help structure our day. They signal when to begin focusing, when
between capability and burnout becomes increasingly fragile. to pause, and remind us that our time has purpose.
This invites a deeper reflection about AI-augmented work: giving By embracing these practices, we can slowly move away from
people more powerful tools and responsibilities without setting reactive busyness and reclaim a more intentional rhythm of living.
healthy limits can easily lead to overload. When tools expand what We relearn how to be present, to focus deeply, and to find quiet
we can do but also increase interruptions and demands, the result satisfaction in doing just enough.
is not necessarily better work, just more of it.
References
[1] Erik M Altmann and J Gregory Trafton. 2002. Memory for goals: An activation-
based model. Cognitive science 26, 1 (2002), 39–83.
[2] Ben Shneiderman and. 2020. Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence: Re-
5 Conclusion liable, Safe & Trustworthy. International Journal of Human–Computer
What can we do to counter the escalating demands of AI-augmented Interaction 36, 6 (2020), 495–504. doi:10.1080/10447318.2020.1741118
arXiv:https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2020.1741118
workflows and reclaim our capacity for focus, reflection, and fulfill- [3] Mia M Birau. 2025. Handmaking a better future: A scoping review on the role of
ment? The answer lies not in rejecting technology, but in cultivating handmade activities in advancing individual and societal well-being. Psychology
a more mindful, embodied relationship with work and time. & Marketing 42, 1 (2025), 44–63.
[4] Francesco Chiossi, Luke Haliburton, Changkun Ou, Andreas Martin Butz, and
One promising strategy is to design for presence. This means Albrecht Schmidt. 2023. Short-Form Videos Degrade Our Capacity to Retain
intentionally choosing tools and workflows that reduce interrup- Intentions: Effect of Context Switching On Prospective Memory. In Proceedings
of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Hamburg,
tions and allow mental space to emerge. For example, scheduling Germany) (CHI ’23). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA,
protected blocks of time for deep work [19] and defending them Article 30, 15 pages. doi:10.1145/3544548.3580778
can help us step out of the reactive loop of notifications and alerts. [5] Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. 1988. The flow experience and its significance for hu-
man psychology. Optimal experience: Psychological studies of flow in consciousness
Presence is shaped not only by how we focus, but also by where 2 (1988), 15–35.
we work and how we structure our time. Design choices can help [6] Alexandra Diening and Art Kleiner. 2024. A Strategy for Human–AI Symbio-
us stay grounded and less distracted. sis: Concepts, Tools, and Business Models for the New AI Game. Independently
published, Zurich, Switzerland.
Another approach is to embrace the analog. Keeping paper [7] Michael Harris and Bill Tayler. 2019. Don’t Let Metrics Undermine Your Business.
books, notebooks, or sketchpads nearby invites us to think with https://hbr.org/2019/09/dont-let-metrics-undermine-your-business Accessed:
2025-06-27.
our hands and engage in slower, more embodied modes of ideation. [8] Danah Henriksen, William Heywood, and Natalie Gruber. 2022. Meditate to cre-
Analog tools serve not as replacements for digital systems, but as ate: Mindfulness and creativity in an arts and design learning context. Creativity
counterbalances, offering space for reflection, sketching, or map- Studies 15, 1 (2022), 147–168.
[9] Christian Janssen, Samuele Murtinu, Anna Cox, and Jacki O’Neill. 2025. What
ping out thoughts in non-linear ways. Makes a Good Workplace? Tasks, Trust, Time-Off and Differences. In Adjunct
We should also celebrate idleness and know when to stop. As Proceedings of the 4th Annual Symposium on Human-Computer Interaction for
Zhou [20] beautifully described in her PhD thesis proposition, “The Work. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 1–2.
[10] James C Kaufman and Ronald A Beghetto. 2009. Beyond big and little: The four
maturity of a researcher is reflected in knowing when to stop.” Sim- c model of creativity. Review of general psychology 13, 1 (2009), 1–12.
ilarly, in a conversation session at CHIWORK 2025 [9], Prof. Cox [11] Holger Klapperich, Alarith Uhde, and Marc Hassenzahl. 2020. Designing everyday
automation with well-being in mind. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing 24 (2020),
argues that organizations and technology designers must move 763–779.
beyond simplistic notions of work-life balance and instead con- [12] Sophie Leroy. 2009. Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention
sider how systems and cultures can actively support time-off as a residue when switching between work tasks. Organizational Behavior and Human
Decision Processes 109, 2 (2009), 168–181.
critical component of sustainable productivity. Resting, reflecting, [13] Jie Li, Hancheng Cao, Laura Lin, Youyang Hou, Ruihao Zhu, and Abdallah El Ali.
or engaging in slow activities like walking, baking, or gardening 2024. User Experience Design Professionals’ Perceptions of Generative Artificial
is not unproductive. These moments provide incubation, helping Intelligence. In Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in
Computing Systems (Honolulu, HI, USA) (CHI ’24). Association for Computing
ideas to surface and emotional energy to renew. As Klapperich et Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 381, 18 pages. doi:10.1145/3613904.
al. [11] argue, designing everyday automation with well-being in 3642114
[14] Gloria Mark. 2023. Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance,
mind means making space for these “off” moments, because they Happiness and Productivity. Harper Collins Publ., New York, USA.
are foundational to our sense of meaning and psychological health. [15] Microsoft WorkLab. 2023. Will AI Fix Work? 2023 Work Trend Index Annual
Moreover, practice hybrid work rhythms that combine cogni- Report. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/will-ai-
fix-work Accessed: 2025-06-27.
tively demanding tasks with hands-on, low-pressure activities can [16] Microsoft WorkLab. 2024. AI at Work Is Here. Now Comes the Hard Part
enhance both performance and well-being. High-focus intervals 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/
might be followed by a period of organizing, crafting, or move- worklab/work-trend-index/ai-at-work-is-here-now-comes-the-hard-part Ac-
cessed: 2025-06-27.
ment—activities that restore clarity while still feeling purposeful. [17] Microsoft WorkLab. 2024. Breaking Down the Infinite Workday.
These rhythms align with how our attention naturally works, alter- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/breaking-
down-infinite-workday Accessed: 2025-06-27.
nating between periods of focus and rest, rather than pushing us to [18] Microsoft WorkLab. 2025. 2025: The Year the Frontier Firm Is Born2025 Work
stay constantly productive in ways that lead to mental exhaustion. Trend Index Annual Report. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-
Finally, we can restore intention through ritual. Especially trend-index/2025-the-year-the-frontier-firm-is-born Accessed: 2025-06-27.
[19] Cal Newport. 2016. Deep work: Rules for focused success in a distracted world.
in times of uncertainty, rituals offer a sense of grounding and co- Hachette UK, London, UK.
herence. This doesn’t necessarily mean rigid routines, but rather [20] J Zhou. 2025. Mattering More-than-human Care in Biodesign. PhD Thesis. Delft
symbolic actions that mark transitions such as lighting a candle be- University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.

fore writing, stretching before a meeting, or cleaning the workspace

after completing a major task. We see rituals as simple cues that