Fiverr allows freelancers to train artificial intelligence with their own work and market it.

Fiverr has announced a new program aimed at empowering its freelancers in a context where artificial intelligence (AI) is already starting to replace workers in the job market. The program, called the Personal AI Creation Model, will allow users to train the AI with their previous work, intending to use it in future creative projects. This initiative is part of Fiverr Go, a broader effort seeking to integrate AI automation capabilities as a useful tool for creators, rather than a threat that displaces them.

According to Fiverr's CEO, Micha Kaufman, this strategy aims to ensure that freelancers are not only recognized for their work but also receive fair compensation while benefiting from tools that allow them to scale their activities. This vision is supported by growing concerns about the need to protect workers in the age of AI, as noted by technology journalist Brian Merchant.

A recent study from the Harvard Business Review indicated that there has been a significant decrease in demand for programming and creative jobs since the emergence of tools like ChatGPT and image generators such as Midjourney and DALL-E. The freelance job market was already precarious, with competition among workers and lacking the typical benefits of full-time employment. Now, freelancers must compete not only against one another but also against generative AIs that can perform complex tasks without needing rest or sustenance.

Unlike other companies that have opted to lay off employees and replace them with automation, Fiverr is taking a different approach. While competitors like Upwork and PeoplePerHour have begun implementing AI assistants to connect clients with freelancers, Fiverr distinguishes itself by allowing creators to leverage generative AI. However, there is concern that these initiatives may only be a façade, without real benefits for the workers, as happened in the case of Adobe.

Fiverr's AI creation model offers freelancers control over their creative process and rights, allowing them to adjust their models and set their prices. This program will cover categories such as voiceover, songwriting, graphic design, copywriting, and marketing. Clients will be able to pay for AI-generated works that have been created by freelancers and will also be able to contact freelancers based on AI-generated work to initiate specific projects.

However, access to the AI creation model is not free. Its cost is $25 per month and is initially available only to selected freelancers. The personal AI assistant also requires an additional subscription under the Seller Plus Premium plan, which costs $29 per month, leaving freelancers to decide if they consider these costs justified by the potential benefits.