Why AI Won’t Bring a Four-Day Workweek Soon
Experts in business often predict that artificial intelligence will eventually reduce the standard workweek to fewer than 40 hours. Figures like Steve Cohen, Eric Yuan, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk have all made varying predictions about shorter workweeks due to technological advancements. However, these predictions are unlikely to come true in the immediate future.
Many leaders who advocate for shorter workweeks could have made these changes long before AI was in focus. For instance, research supports the viability of a four-day workweek without a pay cut. A 2015 Icelandic trial highlighted this by demonstrating stable or increased productivity accompanied by higher employee satisfaction. This model is now more common in Iceland. Similarly, a 2022 study in the UK showed revenue growth and reduced employee stress among 61 companies with a shorter week. Comparable successes have been seen in New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and Brazil.
In the United States, there’s a strong preference for a four-day workweek, but this concept hasn’t gained much traction. As a journalist with over four decades of experience, I have observed that predictions about the demise of a five-day week often fail. One key reason is the persistent emphasis leaders place on face time at the office. Although executives frequently discuss the potential for shorter weeks, they generally require more in-office presence from their employees. Elon Musk, for example, insists on a minimum of 40 hours in the office, while Nvidia’s Jensen Huang works all seven days. Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan advocates for five full days in-office and is critical of remote work.
Moreover, many underestimate the actual time savings technology provides. Technology advancements often increase work demands rather than reduce them. For example, in the 1980s, reporters used manual typewriters and often had to cut and paste by hand, but the introduction of digital tools allowed news to be published 24/7, lengthening work hours instead of shortening them.