As per a recent study that focused on labor trends in Britain and America, it is projected that artificial intelligence could facilitate a transition for millions of workers towards a four-day workweek by the year 2033.
The report from Thinktank Autonomy suggests that approximately 28% of the workforce, translating to 8.8 million individuals in Britain and 35 million in the US, may witness a reduction in their workweeks from the standard 40 hours to 32 hours while maintaining their current pay and performance levels.
The study proposes the utilization of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT in workplaces to redefine employee roles, enhance efficiency, and provide individuals with more leisure time. Autonomy believes that this initiative could potentially mitigate widespread unemployment issues and alleviate prevalent mental and physical health concerns.
Will Stronge, the research director at Autonomy, emphasizes that conventional AI and language model applications predominantly focus on financial gains or altering the labor market landscape. However, this study aims to showcase that leveraging technology to its fullest extent, albeit with a shift in its primary objective, can not only optimize work processes but also foster a healthier work-life equilibrium.
The introduction of LLMs is anticipated to lead to a decrease in working hours for an estimated 28 million workers, constituting 88% of the workforce in Great Britain, by a minimum of 10%, according to the study.
Autonomy highlights that local administrations in the City of London, Elmbridge, and Wokingham exhibit significant potential for enabling a substantial portion of their workforce, approximately 38% or more, to transition to shorter workweeks within the next decade.
In parallel, an independent inquiry in the US revealed that 35 million American workers could potentially shift to a four-day workweek within the same timeframe. The study identified that 71% of the 128 million employees in the US could experience a reduction of at least 10% in their work hours, with states like Massachusetts, Utah, and Washington being identified as having the capacity to implement a four-day workweek through the integration of LLMs.
Congressman Mark Takano underscores the imminent transformations in the labor landscape driven by AI and robotics, advocating for a 32-hour workweek proposal in the US Congress to ensure equitable distribution of performance benefits across all workforce segments.
Autonomy urges both public and private sector entities in the UK and the US to capitalize on the significant opportunity presented by AI adoption in workplaces, positioning themselves as global leaders in this domain and enhancing the livelihoods of millions of workers. The organization also calls upon policymakers to take proactive measures in response to these shifting labor dynamics.
Stronge envisions a robust AI business strategy that involves establishing technology hubs where industry stakeholders, labor unions, businesses, and tech experts collaborate to prioritize productivity enhancements that are mutually beneficial for employers and employees alike.
