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Jack Ma Says 12-Hour Work Week Could Be the Norm

  • Alibaba co-founder urges reform of education systems
  • Ma says current teaching approaches modeled on industrial era
Jack Ma with Elon Musk on Aug. 29.
Jack Ma with Elon Musk on Aug. 29.Photographer: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
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Billionaire Jack Ma, long an outspoken advocate for China’s extreme work culture, says that people should be able to work just 12 hours a week with the benefits of artificial intelligence.

People could work as little as three days a week, four hours a day with the help of technology advances and a reform in education systems, the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. co-founder said at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai Thursday. He spoke on-stage with Elon Musk, the chief executive officer of Tesla Inc. who is building manufacturing facilities in the city.