Bill Gates predicts 2-day workweek within a decade due to AI
NEVADA, UNITED STATES — Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates envisions a future where artificial intelligence (AI) drastically reduces the need for human labor, potentially leading to a two-day workweek within the next decade.
Speaking on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Gates suggested that AI advancements could automate most tasks, forcing a rethinking of traditional work structures.
“What will jobs be like? Should we just work like 2 or 3 days a week?” Gates speculated. He emphasized that the purpose of life extends beyond performing jobs, a sentiment he echoed in earlier interviews.
Shorter workweeks show promising results
The shift, Gates predicts, could bring societal changes, including reduced burnout and increased leisure time. Some experts believe it might even address declining birth rates, as seen in Japan, where Tokyo’s government has introduced a four-day workweek initiative to encourage work-life balance.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, most companies participating in a six-month trial of a four-day workweek in 2022 have made it permanent, according to the think tank Autonomy.
The companies involved spanned a range of industries, including marketing/advertising, arts/entertainment, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, social work, architecture, and professional services, among others.
Aside from the UK, Germany also launched a major six-month trial of a four-day workweek across 45 companies, allowing employees to work one less day per week on full pay.
Additionally, a study revealed that by focusing on productivity, accountability, and flexibility, companies were able to reduce the work week to four days without reducing pay or output.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, has also hinted at shorter workweeks enabled by AI but maintains his company’s strict five-day office policy for now.
Gates’ vision aligns with these trends, as he believes AI will soon handle tasks like manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture.
“There will be some things that we reserve ourselves for, but in terms of making things and moving things and growing food — over time, those will be basically solved problems,” he said.
Doctors and teachers among roles at AI risk
While AI promises to revolutionize industries, Gates acknowledged that some professions may face disruption. He highlighted doctors and teachers as two fields likely to see substantial AI-driven transformation.
“With AI, over the next decade, (intelligence) will become free, commonplace — great medical advice, great tutoring,” Gates explained. He views these changes as ultimately beneficial for society by improving access to quality services. However, Gates noted that some roles—such as professional sports—will remain uniquely human.
For others, embracing AI literacy may be key to thriving in this evolving landscape. According to LinkedIn, AI literacy is already the fastest-growing skill for 2025.
