Hollywood power broker Ari Emanuel, the chairman and CEO of Endeavor, has made a bold prediction about the future of work in the age of artificial intelligence. Speaking on the All-In podcast, Emanuel declared that AI advancement will fundamentally transform the American work week, reducing it from the traditional five days to just three.
Emanuel’s vision stems from observing current workplace trends and extrapolating them into an AI-driven future. “I was seeing Elon and seeing the robots. Probably 3-day work week for full employment,” Emanuel stated during the conversation.
He pointed to data showing that Americans are already adapting their schedules, noting that “drive times, average drive times in America, 11 to 4,” with people handling personal tasks during traditional work hours using mobile devices. Hotel bookings on Thursdays have surged, indicating that three-day weekends are becoming increasingly common.
This shift in work patterns has profound implications for the entertainment industry, where Emanuel has built his empire. The veteran dealmaker, who transformed Endeavor from a boutique talent agency into a multi-billion dollar sports and entertainment conglomerate encompassing UFC, WWE, and numerous other live events properties, sees the emerging work-life balance as a massive opportunity.
“If you have AI over there, the opposite bet on AI is not data centers. It’s live,” Emanuel explained. “There’s going to be a lot of free time. We definitely all need connections.”
Emanuel’s conviction in live entertainment as the counterbalance to AI was reinforced during a recent visit with Elon Musk, where he witnessed Tesla’s humanoid robot development. Describing what he saw, Emanuel said, “The man’s a genius. When I saw what the hand was doing, the third or fourth generation, I was like, it’s incredible.”
Musk explained to Emanuel that a single robot could replace five workers, operating 24 hours a day without human resources complications.
Rather than viewing this technological revolution with trepidation, Emanuel is doubling down on human experiences. He’s launching a new $2 billion live events company, consolidating approximately 900 events from Endeavor’s portfolio into a pure-play business.
His thesis is straightforward: as AI handles more routine work and people gain additional leisure time, demand for in-person entertainment, sports, and live experiences will skyrocket. “Humans want connection,” he emphasized.
While some fear job displacement, Emanuel envisions a future where technology liberates people to pursue connection, entertainment, and experiences. This is a future his business empire is uniquely positioned to serve.