AI Revolution might create a four-day a week for almost one-third of workers: Report

A four-day workweek by 2033 could be enabled by artificial intelligence, impacting 28% of the workforce in Britain and 35 million workers in the US, according to a study by Autonomy. The study has suggested that the introduction of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT into workplaces could result in productivity gains, reducing the working week from 40 to 32 hours for millions of workers, while maintaining pay and performance. This approach has been seen as a potential solution to avoid mass unemployment and address mental and physical health issues, reported The Guardian citing the Report.

Artificial intelligence might turn beneficial: Study

According to Autonomy's director of research, Will Stronge, many studies on AI and large language models (LLMs) often focus solely on profitability or the potential for job loss. This study has aimed to demonstrate that when technology is fully deployed and its purpose is shifted, it can not only enhance work practices but also improve work-life balance. The research indicated that the introduction of LLMs could potentially reduce working hours by at least 10% for 28 million workers, or 88% of Great Britain's workforce. The think tank identified local authorities such as the City of London, Elmbridge, and Wokingham as having the highest potential for workers to reduce their hours, with 38% or more of the workforce capable of doing so in the coming decade, reported Guardian citing the study.

AI in the US

In a similar study conducted in the US by Autonomy, it was found that 35 million American workers could potentially transition to a four-day week within the same time frame. The study has exhibited that 128 million workers, constituting 71% of the workforce, might see their working hours reduced by at least 10%. States like Massachusetts, Utah, and Washington were identified as having the potential for a quarter or more of their workforces to adopt a four-day week using LLMs. Congressman Mark Takano, who has introduced a 32-hour workweek bill to the US Congress, emphasized the need for government action to ensure that efficiency gains from AI and automation benefit all workers, regardless of industry or skill level.

In the UK and the US, Autonomy has called on public and private-sector employers to seize a significant opportunity to lead in the adoption of workplace AI. Further, the study has suggested viewing this as a chance to enhance the lives of hundreds of millions of workers and calls on policymakers to take action. Meanwhile, Stronge noted that a robust AI industrial strategy, incorporating automation hubs where trade unions, industry representatives, and tech experts collaborate to boost productivity and benefit workers, would be particularly impressive."