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Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, has predicted that the four-day working week will become standard within the next two decades, redefining the traditional work-life balance.
Speaking at Zoomtopia 2024, the company’s annual conference, Yuan highlighted how advancements in AI could soon reduce the need for the conventional five-day workweek.
“Very soon, maybe in the next 20 years or maybe sooner, we won’t need to work for five days,” Yuan said, envisioning a future where workers will spend just 32 hours a week on the job. “That will become reality,” he added.
Yuan compared the potential impact of AI on the workplace to the influence of Henry Ford, who introduced the 40-hour workweek nearly a century ago. He suggested that AI could fundamentally change what productivity looks like, enabling employees to focus on creativity and complex problem-solving rather than routine tasks.
According to Yuan, AI tools will simplify meeting-related tasks by generating summaries, managing communications, and assisting with task management. Yuan suggested that such capabilities could one day help free up enough time to make a four-day workweek viable for many companies.
“We’re just beginning to scratch the surface of what AI can do for productivity,” Yuan said, explaining that the goal is to integrate AI seamlessly so that technology works in the background while humans tackle more strategic tasks.
What AI will do next
In addition to outlining the future of work, Yuan also suggested that AI could eventually assist in areas like contract negotiations and customer communications, helping employees save time while potentially enhancing work quality. He envisions AI as an indispensable partner that can tackle time-consuming activities, allowing workers to concentrate on more meaningful and high-impact responsibilities.
His forecast aligns with a growing trend among companies and workers advocating for shorter working weeks to improve productivity and employee wellbeing. As AI continues to evolve, its potential to reshape traditional work patterns is becoming increasingly relevant.
