The Impacts of AI on Freelancers: 3 Major Problems
AI has dominated the headlines lately. And as freelancers, it’s easy to get swept up in the waves of fearmongering and cautionary headlines. So today, we’re looking at 3 significant impacts AI will and is having on the freelancing industry and how you can adapt to overcome them.
Let’s dive in!
1. Competition Stifles Growth
In an oversaturated market, freelancers face a tricky balancing act. They have to ensure their services stand out from the crowd without losing sight of their personal brand and the unique value they bring to clients. AI has only made this balancing act even trickier.
The Problem: Inauthenticity
Contrary to what you might think, a saturated market isn't a dead end—it's more like a test of resilience. In this tough terrain, people who lack authenticity tend to succeed about as much as their content has value—in other words, they don’t.
Think about those notorious cash-cow content channels on YouTube. (I’m looking at you 5-Minute Crafts.) They’ve been around for years, and with AI in the mix, there's been an explosion of them. But rather than cheap, inauthentic content stealing viewers from hardworking creators, it’s given genuine creators an edge.
As viewers yearn for something authentic, real, and valuable, genuine creators can give viewers the breath of fresh air they need.
The Solution: Authenticity
Bring your true self to the table. In a saturated market, your unique voice, perspective, and creativity become your secret weapons. Whether it's the charm of your personality, a fresh approach to your content, or something else entirely, your distinctiveness will make an impact.
By infusing your work with these authentic elements, you're not just adding to the noise; you're creating a symphony that resonates with your audience in a way that mass-produced content never could, whether it’s AI-generated or not.
2. Distrust Because of AI
The rise of AI-generated content has cast a long shadow of doubt over the freelancing world, making clients increasingly skeptical about the originality of the work they're paying for. And I get it; no one wants to spend the big bucks on human content only to be given robot-generated work. But this distrust poses a significant hurdle for freelancers, who are often left to prove their authenticity.
The Problem: Eroding Trust in the Industry
Unfortunately, the prevailing uncertainty has paved the way for opportunistic individuals to exploit the situation. There are "clients" out there who seize this turbulence in our industry to manipulate honest freelancers, throwing around accusations of using AI-generated content to gain an unfair advantage.
Regardless of whether these clients harbor genuine concerns about AI or are merely seeking to cheat freelancers, the impact is the same—a significant erosion of trust in our industry. This eroded trust strains the client-freelancer relationship and poses a real challenge to the integrity of the freelancing community, making it increasingly important to cultivate transparency and accountability as we navigate these changes.
The Solution: Go the Extra Mile
In the face of growing distrust between clients and freelancers, you have to go the extra mile.
Let’s face it, AI detectors are terrible. So, if you’ve had your fair share of false accusations about using AI-generated content, it’s time to level up your game. Here’s how you can do that without relying on AI detectors:
Clear Communication: Begin by setting the stage with open and honest dialogue about your work process. Discuss how you brainstorm ideas, draft content, and refine your work.
Proof of Work: To strengthen your transparency, consider sharing your creative process. Screen recording your process can be invaluable evidence of your hands-on work. And providing access to your Google Docs history can show the progressive development of your content, distinguishing it from instantly generated AI content.
Building Reputation: A strong reputation built over time is your best defense. Consistently delivering high-quality, human-crafted work will lead to satisfied clients who can vouch for your authenticity.
Contracts and Agreements: Don't underestimate the power of a well-drafted contract. Including terms specifying the delivery of original, human-generated content can safeguard your work and build client confidence.
By adopting these strategies, you're not just addressing a problem—you're taking proactive steps to cultivate trust and authenticity in a time when these qualities are more valuable than ever.
3. Fewer Clients and Losing Services
Now, let's dive into our third talking point, one that's been swirling around quite a bit: the fear of losing clients and services to AI.
Despite what today’s headlines might lead you to believe, AI isn’t exactly “new.” In fact, AI has been around for years.
Take Grammarly for an example. Grammarly is an AI-powered tool that’s been around since 2009. It provides comprehensive feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, conciseness, and even tone—all without a penny spent on its free plan. For a mere $12 a month, the benefits multiply.
But here's the thing: even with such an accessible and advanced AI tool, there's still a steady demand for human editors.
The Problem: People Always Test Alternatives
People, especially businesses, are always willing to test out cheaper alternatives. As a result, I’ve noticed three groups emerging:
The AI Users - These are clients who dip their toes into the AI pool and decide to stick with it for one reason or another. They’re willing to fully embrace AI, regardless of how the results measure up against human-crafted content.
The Hybrid Users - This group tries AI but quickly recognizes that nothing can fully replace the human touch. These clients often blend AI and human expertise, using AI for the heavy lifting and relying on human skills to revise, edit, and oversee the process.
The Hirers - Lastly, some clients remain steadfast in their preference for 100% human-generated content. Despite the rise of AI, they believe deeply in the unique value that human creativity brings to the table.
So what does all this mean?
Solution: Expand
Looking at the three client groups, I see an interesting path forward.
Group 1 (the AI Users) is no longer on the market, and Group 3 (the Hirers) is business as usual. Group 2 is where things get interesting. They represent a goldmine of new opportunities. Sure, they’ve dipped into AI, but they also recognize its limitations and the indispensable value of the human touch. Existing services haven’t fully catered to this unique blend of needs, creating fertile ground for expansion and innovation.
Freelancers who can step into this space and provide expert human oversight are in high demand. So rather than viewing AI as the competition, we can see it as opening up new avenues to showcase our unique skills and services. In this evolving landscape, adaptability and innovation are our greatest assets.
Final Thoughts
The rise of AI presents challenges and opportunities for freelancers. As AI pushes the boundaries of what’s possible, the only constant is change. To remain competitive, we all have to push to offer more than what AI can, providing authenticity, trust, and innovation.
Is AI advancing at an alarming rate? Perhaps. But it’s not just about keeping up with AI, but evolving. The game is changing, my friends, and it’s up to us to change with it. Am I scared? Not at all.
