As China bans the notorious 996 work culture, Silicon Valley’s AI startups are not just embracing it — they’re pushing it to the extreme with ‘007’ workweeks.
As China distances itself from the brutal “996” grind — 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week — Silicon Valley’s AI startups are not only embracing it but taking it several notches further. Meet the new obsession: “007” — midnight to midnight, seven days a week.
What China’s courts outlawed in 2021 as exploitative, America’s AI startups are now deeming as necessary to innovation. In the fierce race to dominate artificial intelligence, 12-hour days are no longer extreme enough. For some, a 72-hour workweek is just the starting point.
At San Francisco-based AI startup Rilla, applicants are told up front: join only if you’re excited to work 70-hour weeks. The company provides daily meals — Saturdays included — and most of its 80-odd employees keep the same intense pace. Elsewhere, firms like Fella & Delilah are sweetening the deal: offering employees a 25% pay bump and double equity if they sign up for 996-style hours. Less than 10% took the offer, but the message is clear — the hustle is back.
Recruiters are catching on too. Adrian Kinnersley, a hiring consultant, told Wired that 996-style contracts are increasingly common, sometimes required even before interviews. He’s already secured a domain: 996careers.com.
The term “996” was once a symbol of modern slavery in China, sparking protests and legal action. But in Silicon Valley, it’s being repackaged as a badge of honour — and 007 is the next evolution. “If you want to build a $100 million company, five days a week is fine. For a $10 billion one, it’s seven days,” said VC Harry Stebbings, claiming Chinese companies have already moved beyond 996 to “007” — with 24/7 rotating teams chasing round-the-clock output.
Big Tech icons are feeding the frenzy. Elon Musk told X employees to expect an “extremely hardcore” work culture. Google’s Sergey Brin recently said 60 hours per week was the “sweet spot” for productivity on the Gemini AI team.
But not everyone’s on board. Labour experts warn these practices may violate California’s strict workplace laws, with many AI firms “wildly noncompliant.” Still, few expect enforcement anytime soon.
What’s driving this sprint to exhaustion? A mix of geopolitical rivalry, VC pressure, Gen-Z founders idolising Musk and Jobs, and the trillion-dollar promise of AI. While China walks away from the grind, Silicon Valley is glamourising it — and pushing further into the red zone of burnout.