The idea of four-day work week is gaining traction among proponents of the four-day work week, and at least one software startup CEO has moved his company to a 32-hour week — with no change in pay — because of AI. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is a four-day work week booster, having introduced a 32-hour workweek bill last year, though such a proposal is unlikely to get far in Congress. Instead of firing people, proponents argue that firms share the gains of improved technology by giving workers some of their time back. Instead of fearing AI will replace them, workers welcome its advancements and figure out creative ways to leverage the tech. Economist Juliet Schor, lead researcher for 4DWG, a global nonprofit that’s piloted shorter work weeks with 245 organizations in the U.S., U.K. and elsewhere says “The ability of large language models like ChatGPT to wipe out millions of good-paying positions means we need to be intentional about how we adjust to that technology. Reducing hours per job is a powerful way to keep more people employed.” Smaller firms can more easily implement a big change like a four-day week — larger companies are likely to have a harder time making it happen, experts say. But reducing work hours to make sure a lot of people don’t lose their jobs when technology advances isn’t a new idea. Shortening work hours as a way to reduce unemployment was one of the arguments wielded by advocates for five-day work weeks back in the early 20th century. (That used to be a wild idea, too.) Roger Kirkness, the CEO of a small software startup called Convictional moved the company to a four-day workweek — without reducing anyone’s pay. Kirkness tells that using AI accelerates writing code but it doesn’t speed up everything — teams still need to be able to think creatively to solve problems and get real work done. The four-day work week is meant to keep everyone fresh, with enough time to recharge so they can do deep-thinking.