Five AI Tools for Achieving a 4.5 Day Work Week

Use AI automation tools to work less and achieve more!

If you’re tapped into the international news circuit, you may have heard about a fascinating new proposal from South Korea’s president, Lee Jae-myung. His administration has introduced a bill that would reduce the standard work week from 40 hours to 36 hours in an effort to ease the burden on South Korean citizens. South Korean work culture is notorious around the world for being particularly intense, so this would be a revolutionary development for the country.

If an entire country is considering a shift from a 5-day work week to a 4.5 day week for the good of its citizens’ mental health, then maybe it would be worthwhile for you, too! Companies in several other countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Australia, have begun piloting the 4.5 work week system to generally positive results.

You may be wondering if it’s even possible for a small business owner to work shorter hours and still be successful. However, with the proper tools and strategies, you too can transition to a 4.5 day work week.

It’s time to prioritize quality over quantity!

Three Reasons Why AI Productivity Tools Are Booming

1) The Way We Think About Work Is Changing

It’s time to let go of the old mindset that longer hours equate to better results. In our modern era, the goal is to work smarter, not harder. We should all be aiming to achieve the maximum impact in less time.

Some companies that have started 4-day work weeks report lower burnout rates and higher productivity levels.

To maintain performance while working fewer hours, workflow innovation is essential, and AI is at the heart of that innovation.

2) The Popularization of AI Automation Technology

Technology has caught up with what businesses need in 2025. With generative AI and RPA (Robotic Process Automation) on the rise, it’s now much easier to automate repetitive tasks.

It’s not hard to image a dessert shop using AI to analyze customer reviews in order to efficiently develop new products, or a solo jewelry-maker using AI image generators to create marketing visuals and newsletters.

Automation is no longer a luxury that only large corporations can afford. AI tools have made it accessible to small businesses, too.

3) They Save on Costs

For small businesses lacking big budgets or extra staff members, AI tools can be a cost-effective solution for myriad different problems that start-ups face. Many AI productivity tools are available for free or via affordable subscription models, which lowers the barrier of entry for independent brands.

Take Tidy-B, for example. It’s an AI branding solution that gained traction during its beta phase because it’s easy to use and low-cost. Automated processes like these save time and money that would otherwise need to be dedicated to a full-time branding team. So, through the power of AI automation, adopting a 4.5-day work week is entirely possible!

Case Study: A Small Business Owner's Transformation

Meet Jeff, the owner of an online store.

He wanted to start following a 4.5-day work week schedule in order to spend more time with his family, but was concerned about handling everything alone or potentially losing profits.

Once he started using AI tools, he was able to maintain his sales levels while gaining more free time.

Previously, the task that took up most of Jeff’s time was writing marketing content to promote his products. Now, he just asks ChatGPT to write his product introductions, and within 3 minutes, he’s given blog posts and Instagram captions ready to go (check out this article for tips on how to effectively use ChatGPT to write your marketing content).

He also began using the AI accounting tool Truewind, which automatically collects and categorizes bank and card transactions and emails Jeff a daily report on his balances, revenue, and expenses.

“It’s like having a full-time bookkeeper,” says Jeff.

AI offers solo or small business owners access to the same resources that massive corporations have, finally giving them a leg up in the competition.

Five AI Tools Every Small Business Needs

1. Design Automation – Tidy-B

This all-in-one branding tool handles complex visual design tasks in just five minutes. By simply answering a few questions, it generates your brand logo, color palette, fonts, and even templates for business cards, posters, and documents.

• Cost: starts as low as $10/month (with an annual plan)

• Best for: Startups, early-stage brands, and small businesses without dedicated designers

2. Marketing Content Creation – ChatGPT + Canva

This is the ultimate combo for writing marketing copy and creating promotional content. Just prompt ChatGPT to write you anything from “a blog post announcing our new menu item” to “ad copy for a flyer at a networking event,” and you’ll get drafts for blogs, Instagram captions, and promotional text messages in minutes. Combine this with the thousands of free templates available on Canva, and you can easily use your AI-generated copy to create visual marketing materials for both printed and digital mediums.

Tip!

It’s important to treat content written by ChatGPT and similar tools as drafts, rather than polished content right off the bat. Always double-check what the AI has written to make sure that it’s consistent with your brand and doesn’t include misinformation. For more tips of how to effectively use ChatGPT for your marketing materials, check out this article.

• Cost: Both services offer both free and paid plans

• Best for: Anyone short on time for content creation

3. Accounting AI Assistant – Truewind and Zeni.ai

These smart assistants help with accounting work for small businesses and start-ups. If you connect your business accounts and cards to these tools, they’ll categorize expenses, monitor payroll for any employees, and accurately handle your bookkeeping. Come tax season, both of these AI tools also offer comprehensive analyses of your expenses.

• Cost: Book demos directly with services for a price quote

• Best for: Solo small business owners looking to free up more time

4. Customer Service Chatbots – Replai

Replai allows you to set up automated responses for frequently asked questions and to provide 24/7 support to your customers with pre-written answers. They also offer their services in up to five different languages, allowing you to communicate with an even wider customer base.

• Cost: $29/month

• Best for: Online stores, booking-based businesses

5. Scheduling & Task Automation – Clockwise

This AI assistant will optimize your calendar and to-do list. It prioritizes your tasks based on urgency and auto-schedules meetings based on your availability.

• Cost: Free and paid plans available

• Best for: Business owners who frequently need to meet with clients

Smart Branding with Tidy-B

With AI automation on an upward trend, it’s time to smarten up your branding, too.

Tidy-B is the only AI solution that automates every element of marketing, from creating a brand strategy and designing a logo to generating marketing content.

Final Thoughts

By using this service, even small businesses without the budget for a dedicated designer or marketer can manage consistent branding and fast content production, ensuring that marketing quality remains high, even with shorter working hours.

In the emerging era of the 4.5-day work week, businesses that save time have a competitive edge. By utilizing the five types of AI tools introduced today, getting 5 days' worth of results in just 4.5 days is absolutely possible. These tools are beginner-friendly, so don’t be afraid to play around with them and experiment.

Delegating certain tasks to AI isn’t some futuristic dream anymore. In fact, you can get started today!

What about you? What do you think about 4.5-day work weeks? Are you considering a transition to fewer working hours? Do you have any AI productivity tools you’re already using and loving?