All videos

Freelancers are using AI tools more than other professionals

Freelancers are using AI tools more than other professionals. 20% of freelancers say they regularly use generative AI, compared with only 9% of the non-freelance workforce. This means freelancers are 2.2 times more likely to use AI ‘frequently’.

Top tasks for Generative AI among freelancers

The top task they use it for is research (41%) followed by brainstorming and ideation (35%), translation (33%), and writing proposals (32%).

Freelancing landscape and potential AI impact

Freelancing platform Upwork surveyed 3,000 US workers and found that 38% of the US labor force did freelance work in the past year. Together, they contributed $1.27 trillion to the economy. Around half of them provide knowledge services such as IT or marketing, while nearly a quarter produce influencer-style content. Notably, 60% of them work remotely.

Across all work, 62% of time spent involves language tasks, so generative AI could impact a wide range of jobs. The roles most exposed to automation are clerks, management analysts, and telemarketers. However, the adoption of large language models is also likely to create new roles, including AI developers, interface designers, data curators, and AI ethics and governance specialists.

Have you read?
Topics:
Emerging TechnologiesForum InstitutionalJobs and the Future of Work
Share:

Why AI is the new frontier global trade must learn to cross

Patrick McMaster

October 9, 2024

About us

Engage with us

  • Sign in
  • Partner with us
  • Become a member
  • Sign up for our press releases
  • Subscribe to our newsletters
  • Contact us

Quick links

Language editions

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Sitemap

© 2024 World Economic Forum