Demirci, O., Hannane, J., & Zhu, X. (2023). Who Is AI Replacing? The Impact of Genera-tive AI on Online Freelancing Platforms.

The study analyzes data from a major online freelancing platform and identifies a significant decrease in job postings for tasks prone to automation, particularly those related to writing, coding, and image creation. The introduction of ChatGPT led to a 21% decline in job posts for automation-prone jobs, such as writing and coding, within eight months. Similarly, the release of image-generating AI tools resulted in a 17% decrease in jobs related to graphic design and 3D modeling. The research highlights that the decline in demand is more pronounced in job categories with higher public awareness of AI’s capabilities to substitute human tasks, as indicated by Google search trends. The paper concludes that the adoption of Generative AI tools is leading to significant short-term disruptions in the online labor market, particularly affecting freelancers in roles susceptible to automation. These findings underscore the need for stakeholders, including companies and policymakers, to consider the broader implications of AI integration in the workforce.

https://questromworld.bu.edu/platformstrategy/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2024/06/PlatStrat2024_paper_119.pdf