Fiverr Encourages Gig Workers to Use AI for Tasks

Fiverr, the gig marketplace, is rolling out a new initiative that lets freelancers train AI on their past projects and then use this AI to handle future gigs. Announced at an event on Tuesday, this move is part of a broader strategy to draw more gig workers to the platform and arm them with cutting-edge generative AI tools.

The standout feature here is a program that allows freelancers in fields like voice-over and graphic design to train AI models on their work. They can then charge clients for using these AI models. Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman framed this as a way to ensure gig workers get the credit and pay they deserve, while also giving them powerful tools to expand their reach.

"This is about making our freelancers irreplaceable, not obsolete," Kaufman stated. "We built these new features to keep creators at the heart of the creative economy."

The gig economy has been struggling since the rise of affordable, widely available generative AI tech. A recent study showed that tools like image generators and OpenAI's ChatGPT have ramped up competition for fewer gigs, hitting writers, programmers, and app developers the hardest.

And it seems like these jobs aren't coming back anytime soon. An earlier study over nine months found that the trend of replacing freelancers with AI only picked up speed.

Fiverr's answer to this challenge is what they're calling the "Personal AI Creation Model." This lets contractors set up an AI trained on their past work—like their artwork or code—and set prices for others to use it. Fiverr assures freelancers that they'll keep ownership of anything their AI model creates, be it song lyrics, illustrations, marketing copy, or digital ad designs.

When it launches on Wednesday, only "thousands" of "top, vetted" freelancers will get to create these models. Fiverr's using "advanced language models" and "generative frameworks" to make this happen, and it'll cost freelancers $25 a month.

For many gig workers, opting out might not be a real option. Not joining in could put them at a disadvantage in an already tough field. Many face financial instability, struggle with bills, and don't have the benefits or legal protections that come with full-time jobs.

Fiverr is clear that it won't use freelancers' data to train its own competing models. Plus, freelancers can turn off their Personal AI Creation Model whenever they want.

"Creative work and the AI models freelancers train belong to them," the spokesperson added. "Fiverr may collect some general, anonymous data to tweak the platform and improve user experience, but we won't use it to copy or compete with what freelancers do ... If a freelancer disables their AI Creation Model, they'll still have access to the content it made, and no one else will."

Freelancers on Fiverr who use the Personal AI Creation Model can also tap into Fiverr's "Personal AI Assistant" for an extra $29 a month, or it's included with the Seller Plus Premium plan. This is basically a customer service chatbot tailored to a freelancer's past client interactions. Fiverr says this customizable assistant can offer business insights and take care of routine tasks, like responding to clients when the freelancer's away.

Given how sensitive some of these chats can be, freelancers might be hesitant to let them be used for training. Fiverr hasn't said if users can choose which chats the Personal AI Assistant will learn from.

Alongside these AI tools, Fiverr announced a new program starting Thursday that will give "top-performing" contractors shares in the publicly traded company. Fiverr didn't spill the beans on how they'll pick who gets shares, how many shares they'll get, or how often they'll get them.

As of last Friday, Fiverr had a market cap of around $1.16 billion. Their stock has had its ups and downs over the past year, but lately, things have been looking up.