Dateline April 12 2030: The traditional workweek of five days has become a thing of the past. Across almost all developed countries, a three-day workweek is now the norm thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and the increased productivity it has brought to the workplace.
Gone are the days of long commutes, endless meetings and burning the midnight oil. Employees have more time to pursue their passions, spend time with their families and take care of their physical and mental health.
This shift towards a shorter workweek has been made possible by AI, which has automated many of the tasks that used to take up valuable time at the office. From scheduling meetings to analysing data, AI has made it possible for humans to focus on the tasks that require creativity, critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
Of course, this shift has not come without its challenges. Employers have had to restructure their businesses to accommodate the shorter workweek, and some industries have had to find new ways to generate revenue. But overall, the benefits have been immense for both workers and companies.
With more time to pursue their passions and take care of their wellbeing, employees are more motivated and engaged in their work. They are also more productive and creative, which has led to increased profits for businesses.
We can expect the same thing to happen in factories where smart robots take on more physical work. AI will become even more advanced, and the three-day workweek will seem “too long” in developed and progressive economies.
This is the future of work — one where humans work smarter, not harder. /First published in Mindbullets, April 13 2023
Who is really doing your job?
AI takes over: workers only doing 40% of their jobs
Dateline January 12 2025: In a revealing study published today, scientists have found that the average worker is only doing about 40% of their job, with most tasks being completed by free AI services. This news has sent shock waves through the workforce, with many questioning their worth and value in the job market.
According to the study, the surreptitious use of AI has skyrocketed in the past few years with more knowledge workers turning to AI chatbots to ease their workload and boost productivity. While this has led to better performance, it has also raised concerns about the role of human workers in a world in which machines can do their jobs just as well, if not better.
“We were really surprised by the results of this study,” said lead researcher Dr Avery Wong. “We knew that AI was being used privately in the workplace, but we had no idea that it had reached such a level. It raises some important questions about the future of work and the value of human labour.”
Despite inner doubts, many workers are overjoyed about being able to offload a significant portion of their job onto AI. “I was always worried about burnout and poor performance reviews,” said “Lucy D”, preferring to remain anonymous, “but now that I have an efficient ‘assistant’, I feel much less anxious. Plus, I can finally take a long lunch break without feeling guilty. And anyway, it’s just a tool, like email.”
As for employers, they are turning a blind eye to unofficial use of AI bots. “We’re looking for outcomes, not time on the job,” said CEO Jack Watson. “If our team can get the same amount of work done in less time, that means more profits for us. It’s a win-win situation.” /First published in Mindbullets, January 12 2023
• Despite appearances to the contrary, Futureworld cannot and does not predict the future. The Mindbullets scenarios are fictitious and designed purely to explore possible futures, and challenge and stimulate strategic thinking.
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