OpenAI and Upwork study AI’s effect on freelance work
Original title: Work at the Frontier: AI’s effect on freelance work
Of 63 categories, 43 common in ChatGPT lost Upwork share, while AI postings grew more diverse.
OpenAI and Upwork published research on shifting freelance demand as AI use grows. Writing accounted for a much larger share of ChatGPT activity than of Upwork postings, while video and animation were more prominent in freelance requests. Of 63 matched categories, 43 that were relatively common in ChatGPT lost share on Upwork, and 20 moved the other way. From early 2023 to late 2025, the task mix in AI-related postings became 45% more diverse.
Unconfirmed: Earnings and workforce shares come from Upwork studies, and demand shifts are the companies’ joint analysis.
- Upwork’s 2026 index found 38% of skilled U.S. knowledge workers freelance.
- A prior Upwork study estimated $1.5 trillion in 2024 U.S. freelance knowledge-work earnings.
- ChatGPT shares cover January 2025 to June 2026; Upwork contrasts use the first half of 2026.
- Task diversity rose from about 14.6 to 21.2 equally common tasks.
- Clients requested AI for chatbots, video, marketing automation, and application integration.
- Countries
- United States
- AI models
- ChatGPT
From the original article
7 min read at openai.comNew research from OpenAI and Upwork finds shifting demand for freelance work, new skill combinations, and larger budgets and more hours for AI-related projects.
openai.com
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