Think about this: You’re working from home on a Monday morning. You’ve planned your day and are thinking of having a cup of coffee after finishing your work at 5 PM. Suddenly, your boss calls and wants to hold an “urgent” meeting at the office as soon as possible. And you live quite far away (which means the coffee plans are definitely cancelled). Now, we’ve all been in such situations and in these times wish we could somehow be in two places at the same time. And according to Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, with the rise of AI, this might be possible in the future.

In a recent interview with The Verge magazine, Yuan suggested that in the near future, AI avatars could attend meetings on behalf of users, potentially changing the way corporate functions are managed. He created a scenario where these avatars, trained on users’ own content, could handle routine meetings and other mundane aspects of work life. However, he added that AI could never replace in-person human interactions.

He said, “Let’s say, five or six years down the line, that AI is ready. AI can help with maybe 90 percent of the work, but in terms of real-time interactions, today, you and I are talking online. So, I can send a digital version of me — you can send a digital version of you. Again, not like a face-to-face meeting. If I stop by your office, let’s say I hug you, you shake my hand, right? I think AI can’t replace that. We still need to have face-to-face interactions. That’s very important. Let’s say you and I are sitting together at a local Starbucks, and we’re having a very intimate conversation — AI can’t do that either.”

Yuan said this idea of ​​employing AI avatars could significantly change the work-life balance. He proposed that with AI handling repetitive tasks, people could devote more time to personal interactions and activities outside of work. “You and I may have more time for personal interactions, but maybe not for work. Maybe for something else. Why do we need to work five days a week? Going forward, four days or three days. Why not spend more time with your family?” he explained.

Meanwhile, Zoom continues to develop technologies that bridge the gap to this AI-powered future. The company has already integrated AI into its platform, with features like automatic transcription and smart scheduling. These advancements not only improve users’ experience but also lay the groundwork for more sophisticated AI applications.

Yuan’s outlook reflects a growing sentiment among tech leaders that AI could substantially replace the workforce. By delegating routine tasks to AI, employees may be able to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of their jobs. This shift could also lead to a reevaluation of the traditional work week, leading to a better work-life balance.

Despite the excitement about these possibilities, there are also concerns about the implications of AI on the workplace. Issues such as job displacement, privacy, and the ethical use of AI are important considerations that need to be addressed as the technology develops.