Zoom CEO Eric Yuan Predicts AI Will Reduce Workweek to 3-4 Days Within Five Years

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan says AI will shorten our workweek | TechCrunch

Zoom founder and CEO Eric Yuan believes that AI assistants will finally allow us to shorten our workweek. Speaking on stage at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference on Monday, Yuan discussed his videoconferencing product's embrace of AI, which includes a "digital twin" feature where an AI avatar can speak for you. Yuan began using his AI avatar in an earnings call with investors this year, demonstrating the technology's potential and ability to push the "boundaries of communication," he said. At Disrupt, the exec emphasized spending a lot of time talking about AI and the right products to bring to market. When asked about what he's investing in, he responded, "AI, AI, and AI." The technology is the subject of multi-hour strategy meetings, as Zoom believes in its potential to transform work. Yuan also suggested there were many more use cases for AI companions, beyond just video conferencing stand-ins. He offered a potential future scenario where two business execs were negotiating a contract over Zoom. Instead of being on a call for a long time, they could send their digital twins to work together on the plan first, Yuan said. He also spoke of how AI could assist with email, checking your messages for you, and help you figure out what was important and in need of a response. Plus, Yuan believes that AI could enhance Zoom's broader suite of solutions, which includes things like an online whiteboard and collaborative docs. "Today, I need a manually focus on all those products to get work done. Eventually, AI will help," Yuan said. "By doing that, we do not need to work five days a week anymore, right?... Five years out, three days or four days [a week]. That's a goal," he said.

Zoom CEO says AI will cut workweek to four days

Zoom is investing heavily in AI tools like digital twins, automated email triage, and intelligent whiteboards to transform how teams collaborate. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan predicted at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference that artificial intelligence will reduce the typical workweek to three or four days within five years. This forecast stems from AI's ability to handle routine tasks through digital twins, enabling workers to prioritize higher-value activities. Yuan detailed how AI technologies, particularly AI digital twins, will automate mundane responsibilities. These avatars function by attending meetings and speaking on behalf of users, thereby freeing individuals from repetitive duties and allowing concentration on strategic efforts. Yuan's statement underscores a transformation in productivity standards across various sectors as AI integrates into daily operations. To illustrate this concept, Yuan referenced his personal experience deploying an AI avatar during a Zoom earnings call. This demonstration showcased the immediate applicability of AI in professional settings, where the avatar effectively represented him in communications, highlighting existing tools that mimic human interaction in virtual environments. Zoom's commitment to AI development forms a core part of Yuan's vision. The company is allocating substantial resources to create AI-assisted products that extend beyond video conferencing. These innovations target comprehensive collaboration and workflow enhancements, including systems for sorting and prioritizing emails based on urgency and content analysis. Additionally, digital twins will facilitate contract negotiations by simulating discussions and proposing terms autonomously. Collaboration tools will also benefit from AI upgrades, such as interactive whiteboards that generate ideas and visualize data in real time, alongside document sharing platforms that automatically edit and refine content for accuracy and relevance. These features aim to streamline team interactions and reduce manual oversight in shared projects. Yuan's outlook resonates with perspectives from other tech executives, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Both leaders advocate for AI's role in optimizing workflows, which diminishes the necessity for human participation in standard procedures. This consensus points to AI as a mechanism for implementing reduced work hours on a broad scale. In Yuan's depiction, AI will redefine workplace dynamics by altering task allocation and execution methods. Consequently, the conventional five-day schedule will diminish, providing employees with increased personal time. Zoom's targeted AI advancements drive this evolution, positioning the company as a leader in adaptive work technologies.

Zoom CEO predicts AI will cut the workweek to three or four days - The Economic Times

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 that AI could make shorter working weeks possible. He highlighted Zoom's new "digital twin" feature, letting AI avatars attend meetings and handle tasks like emails. Yuan believes AI will boost productivity, reduce workloads, and change how people collaborate and work.Eric Yuan, Zoom's founder and CEO, believes artificial intelligence could help us move towards shorter working weeks. He was speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference, explaining how Zoom is embracing AI, including a "digital twin" feature that allows an AI version of you to take part in meetings on your behalf. Yuan had previously discussed this idea with The New York Times last month, saying that AI's rapid progress will enable people to achieve the same or even better results with much less effort. To demonstrate the technology's potential, he even used his own AI avatar during a company earnings call earlier this year. At the time, the digital Yuan said, "I am proud to be among the first CEOs to use an avatar in an earnings call. It is just one example of how Zoom is pushing the boundaries of communication and collaboration. At the same time, we know trust and security are essential... We've built strong safeguards to prevent misuse, protect identity, and ensure avatars are used responsibly." During his talk at the conference, Yuan described how AI companions could be useful far beyond video conferencing. As an example, he gave the scenario of two business executives negotiating a contract over Zoom. Rather than spending hours on a call, their digital twins could first work together on a draft agreement. He also suggested that AI could handle tasks such as managing emails, checking messages, and highlighting which ones require attention. Beyond that, he said AI would enhance Zoom's broader range of tools, such as its online whiteboard and collaborative documents. "Today, I need to manually focus on all those products to get work done. Eventually, AI will help," Yuan explained. "By doing that, we do not need to work five days a week anymore, right? ... Five years out, three days or four days [a week]. That's a goal," he added. Yuan isn't the only tech leader who sees AI as a path to shorter working weeks. Tech figures such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang share similar views. Gates even suggested that within the next decade, some companies could move to a two-day workweek.