In a recent interview, Binny Gill, the founder and CEO of Kognitos, a company specializing in generative artificial intelligence, expressed his belief that AI could lead to increased work demands rather than a shorter workweek. Gill predicts that as AI becomes more integrated into the workplace, businesses may adopt a 24/7 operational model, creating an “always-on” culture and potentially pressuring employees to work more. He suggests that while humans may have less manual work, they could be expected to be on call at all times to compete with other companies that are also utilizing AI.
However, not everyone shares Gill’s perspective. Emily Rose McRae, a senior director analyst at Gartner, believes that the idea of a four-day workweek could become more commonplace and that companies may experiment with it to retain employees. McRae also points out that going 24/7 would require a significant number of workers, which may not be feasible due to labor shortages.
Simon Johnson, a professor of global economics and management at MIT, acknowledges the pressure many white-collar employees already face to work extra hours and questions how AI will alleviate this. He suggests that the impact of AI on workweeks will depend on the new tasks it creates in the future.
While the potential for AI to increase work demands exists, it remains to be seen how companies will navigate this technology and its impact on the workforce. The decision to adopt a four-day workweek or increase work demands ultimately lies with management.