A three- or four-day work week could be possible as the technology transforms workplaces
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan has raised the possibility of shorter work weeks due to to the implementation of artificial intelligence tools in the workplace.
In an interview with The New York Times, Yuan spoke about what the possible impact of AI in workplaces.
"I feel like if AI can make all of our lives better, why do we need to work for five days a week? Every company will support three days, four days a week. I think this ultimately frees up everyone's time," the Zoom CEO told the publication.
He added that a paradigm shift in technology may mean some job opportunities disappear, but also introduce new ones.
He said for very important meetings, his executive assistant might have previously joined to take notes but now the company has an A.I. note-taking feature.
"For some jobs, like entry-level engineers, we can use AI to write code. However, you still need to manage that code. You also create a lot of digital agents, and you need someone to manage those agents."
AI saves employees time
Yuan's remarks on shorter work weeks add him to the list of executives who think these work arrangements can be made possible with AI.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said earlier this year that AI will "probably" bring four-day work weeks, Fortune reported.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also raised this possibility during his interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in February.
"It brings with it kind of so much change. You know, what will jobs be like?" he said in the interview. "Should we, you know, just work like two or three days a week?"
These executives made the remarks amid strong perceptions that AI can save a huge amount of time at work.
A previous survey from Thomson Reuters last year showed that professionals and C-level corporate executives are expecting to save up to 12 hours a week in five years.
"That means, if the average professional works approximately 48 weeks of the year, this will equate to roughly 200, 400, and 600 hours, respectively, freed up over the course of the year," the report read.
It comes amid time-saving capabilities delivered by AI tools. Findings from The Adecco Group last year revealed that AI is already helping employees save around an hour each day, with some able to save up to two hours daily.
