The surge in Fiverr searches for freelancers indicates a growing demand for AI skills.

Amid the buzz and fervor surrounding the realm of generative AI technologies, there has been a concurrent surge in businesses’ curiosity about incorporating artificial intelligence (AI).

However, identifying the right individuals to aid an organization in effectively harnessing AI isn’t necessarily a straightforward endeavor. This challenge has triggered a notable upswing in activity on the freelance platform Fiverr, with a staggering 1,400% surge in AI-related service searches over the past six months.

Businesses are actively seeking skilled individuals capable of guiding them in leveraging a wide array of AI technologies, including generative AI capabilities for tasks like image and text generation—tools that have the potential to enhance marketing, sales, and overall business operations. Fiverr, known for its ability to connect organizations with freelance talent, witnessed substantial growth during the pandemic as the demand for remote freelance expertise soared.

Now, Fiverr is directing its focus towards the AI landscape by introducing a set of new categories within its freelance marketplace. This strategic move aims to facilitate businesses in discovering the talent essential for harnessing the transformative power of AI.

Yoav Hornung, Head of Verticals and Innovation at Fiverr, commented on this trend, stating, “We’ve observed a noticeable uptick in searches for AI-related services. Additionally, we’ve noticed a growing number of freelancers offering services connected to the world of generative AI, including the latest tools like ChatGPT, GPT-3, Midjourney, Dall-E, and Stable Diffusion.”

ChatGPT

What motivates organizations to seek freelancers for AI services on Fiverr?

According to Hornung, Fiverr’s strategy involves creating new service categories to facilitate meaningful connections between organizations and freelancers. This approach goes beyond simply offering specific categories; it’s about establishing the right framework to enable companies to request the precise expertise required to achieve their business objectives.

In the realm of generative AI, there has been a noticeable uptick in demand for proficient AI artists who are adept at utilizing the diverse array of tools available. Hornung expressed enthusiasm for the AI artist services, highlighting the remarkable results that emerge when individuals possess a deep understanding of these tools.

Fiverr has also witnessed a surge in companies eager to leverage generative AI engines or create products powered by them. Consequently, these companies are actively seeking skilled freelancers to assist in developing AI-driven applications.

Furthermore, there is substantial demand among organizations for assistance in crafting prompts for generative AI engines. The prompt essentially serves as the query input into a generative AI interface, instructing the AI to produce the desired output. The ability to formulate the right question with an effective prompt is a highly sought-after skill on Fiverr, as per Hornung’s insights.

The proliferation of generative AI tools for text generation has also sparked a fresh demand for freelancers who can aid organizations in proofreading and fact-checking. Hornung noted that proofreading or editing an article generated by AI differs significantly from traditional proofreading, reflecting the evolving landscape of AI-powered content creation.

Organizations may not have a clear vision of their AI needs, but they recognize the importance of AI.

While AI has been in existence for many years, there has been a significant surge in awareness over the past few months, according to Hornung.

He noted that just a few months ago, many mainstream businesses were unfamiliar with GPT-3, but now they are acquainted with ChatGPT and acknowledge the necessity of integrating AI into their operations. This shift in perspective has broadened the spectrum of organizations seeking AI solutions. Previously, those interested in AI were primarily limited to specific personas, such as those involved in data science, but this is no longer the case.

Hornung emphasized that AI is becoming more accessible, with some organizations seeking it for the sake of having AI capabilities, while others are motivated by the tangible benefits it can deliver when employed effectively.

Fiverr aims to assist organizations in addressing this challenge. Some businesses may lack the technical knowledge required to determine the appropriate model, machine learning (ML) approach, or large language model (LLM) prompt needed to create AI solutions that benefit their operations. Hornung explained that while a business user may understand the potential advantages of AI, they may be uncertain about how to implement it effectively. Fiverr’s category structure approach enables business users to pose questions and explore various AI examples and use cases.

Hornung also mentioned Fiverr’s initiative to educate both buyers and sellers through webinars on the capabilities of AI. The goal is to encourage more businesses to harness the power of AI, as Fiverr strongly believes in its potential to enhance business operations.