Researchers in the Netherlands analysed moves made by Chess players during both digital and in-person tournaments, using artificial intelligence to check each against the optimum play. They found the quality of play was significantly worse when the same players competed online instead of face to face, in a sign that staying away from the office is harmful to productivity.
The research concluded that the results show a clear decrease in the overall performance in the remote setting. Dainis Zegners, Assistant Professor at the Department of Technology and Operations Management at RSM and one of the paper's co-authors stated that the research showed workers' ability to conduct mentally-intense tasks while alone may be affected by remote working patterns.