Robots could bring about a four-day working week in Britain as automation and artificial intelligence increase workplace efficiency, a new study has revealed. If new technologies were passed on to staff, they would be able to generate their current weekly economic output in just four days. Even relatively modest gains from using robots and AI had the potential to give British workers Scandinavian levels of leisure time, according to research done by the cross-party Social Market Foundation (SMF) thinktank. The research will boost John McDonnell's plans to reduce hours in the working week The conclusions of the study will come as a boost to John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, who wants to look at reducing hours in the working week. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady used her speech to the organisation's annual gathering last month to call for a four-day working week, saying that it should be achievable by the end of the century.

There have been some alarming reports recently about the possibility of artificial intelligence leaving half of the world potentially unemployed. Recent research shows that within 30 years, robots will be in a position to perform almost all jobs that are held by humans right now. A recent detailed study from the Martin Oxford School has speculated that approximately 47 percent of U.S. jobs are at risk of automation. As there may be some truth in this report, it is not likely that half of the world's jobs will be taken by machines in 30 years. Additionally, some of the jobs facing the risk of automation might not be automated because of technical, societal and economical reasons.