Zoom CEO Eric Yuan thinks artificial intelligence will completely change the way people work in the future. He believes AI could make the usual five-day workweek unnecessary, giving everyone the chance to work only three or four days instead.
Speaking to The New York Times, Yuan said, “If A.I. 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.”
How AI Will Change Jobs
Yuan explained that new technology always changes jobs. Some roles may disappear, while many fresh opportunities will be created. For example, AI could write code for entry-level engineers.
But humans will still be needed to manage that code, oversee results, and control digital agents created by AI.
This idea connects to a bigger debate. Some leaders, like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, worry that AI might cause a big loss of white-collar jobs.
On the other hand, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis believes AI could bring “radical abundance” and even a new “golden era” within the next 5–10 years. Both sides agree, however, that the workplace will look very different.
Tech Leaders Share Similar Views
Yuan is not the only one who thinks AI can shorten the workweek. Microsoft founder Bill Gates said back in 2023 that society could move to a three-day work week, and that it would be fine.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang agrees AI could lead to shorter weeks, but he warns that people might still be just as busy, squeezing more work into fewer days.
In the end, AI is about more than just automation. It could give people more free time, change job structures, and completely redefine how society views work in the future, making life more balanced for millions.
