Mexican AI startup Greptile promotes 14-hour workdays for competitiveness

Greptile, a San Francisco-based AI startup, has a culture of long work hours, with employees often working 9am to 11pm or later, including weekends. CEO Daksh Gupta defends this approach, citing the need for intense focus to develop AI tools for programmers. He argues that transparency is key, informing job candidates about the company’s work culture from the start. This approach is in contrast to Mexico’s 40-hour workweek reform, which aims to reduce the maximum workweek from 48 to 40 hours by 2030.

The reform, which was published in the Official Gazette in 2026, will be implemented gradually, with a reduction of 2 hours every year. The goal is to provide employees with more time for rest, family, and personal activities, while maintaining their economic conditions. However, the effectiveness of long work hours in boosting productivity is disputed, with some experts arguing that it can lead to burnout and decreased well-being.

Greptile’s approach is not representative of all AI startups, and the company’s productivity is not necessarily higher due to its long work hours. The case raises questions about the conditions that companies can set for attracting workers, and whether long work hours should be a requirement for employment.