How artificial intelligence is changing freelance work
AI reshapes solopreneur-client dynamics, prompting a focus on human collaboration amid shifting business spending.
How AI impacts solopreneurs’ relationships with their clients (and what to do about it) (Photo via Fast Company)
The rise of artificial intelligence is fundamentally altering the professional relationship between solopreneurs and their clients, according to a report published Nov. 4 by Fast Company. As businesses increasingly turn to automated tools to manage tasks, the demand for human freelancers is shifting.
Data from the Ramp Economics Lab illustrates a significant reallocation of corporate spending. Between Q4 2021 and Q3 2025, the share of business spending on freelance marketplaces dropped from 0.66% to 0.14%. During that same period, spending directed toward AI model providers grew from 0% to nearly 3%.
Anna Burgess Yang, author of the newsletter Work Better, notes that the impact of this technology goes beyond the fear of job displacement. She observes that clients are changing how they interact with the professionals they hire, often requesting lower costs or using AI to provide second opinions on work produced by humans.
Burgess Yang suggests that solopreneurs should prioritize building relationships with clients who value human collaboration. She argues that those companies primarily focused on replacing human expertise with AI models may not represent a sustainable fit for independent professionals.