Priyanka Tiwari
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While business leaders like Narayana Murthy and SN Subrahmanyan push for longer work hours, Microsoft founder Bill Gates offers a strikingly different vision: in the next 10 years, we may only need to work two days a week, thanks to AI.
Gates, currently ranked 7th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, made the bold claim during a February appearance on The Tonight Show. The episode is now gaining traction online as more people resonate with his prediction of a drastically shorter workweek.
AI’s Impact on Work and Society
According to Gates, artificial intelligence will transform critical sectors such as healthcare and education, making expert services more accessible and efficient. “AI solves specific problems like a shortage of doctors and mental-health professionals, but it also brings massive change,” Gates explained during the interview.
He continued, “What will jobs be like? Should we just work like two or three days a week?” While excited about AI-driven innovation, Gates admitted the future is still largely unpredictable.
Not the First Time Gates Envisioned Shorter Workweeks
This isn’t Gates' first time discussing AI’s potential to reduce working hours. Back in 2023, during the initial boom of tools like ChatGPT, he floated the idea of a three-day workweek becoming the norm as AI takes on more tasks.
Gates’ view sharply contrasts with the work-centric culture advocated by some Indian business leaders. His prediction taps into a broader conversation about work-life balance, automation, and the role of human creativity in a tech-dominated future.
Could AI Really Replace the 9-to-5?
As AI technology becomes increasingly capable, the possibility of a radically shorter workweek feels more plausible than ever. The big question remains: how would society adapt? Would people spend more time on hobbies, health, and personal growth—or would new industries emerge to fill that time?
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