Use of AI could create a four-day week for almost one-third of workers

Commuters on London Bridge. The City of London is one of the UK authorities the study indicates has the highest potential for workers to reduce their hours. Photograph: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock

Artificial intelligence could enable millions of workers to move to a four-day week by 2033, according to a new study focusing on British and American workforces.

The report from the thinktank Autonomy found that projected productivity gains from the introduction of AI could reduce the working week from 40 to 32 hours for 28% of the workforce – 8.8 million people in Britain and 35 million in the US – while maintaining pay and performance.