Lisa Carstens, who worked for a long time as a freelance graphic designer in Spain, lost her job to artificial intelligence (AI). However, she recently found herself in demand thanks to AI. Clients began asking Carstens to fix the clumsy parts of AI-generated images. The images she received were often not great, filled with messy lines and nonsensical text, and would pixelate when enlarged beyond a certain size.
Carstens noted, “There’s people that are aware AI isn’t perfect, and then there’s people that come to you angry because they didn’t manage to get it done themselves with AI.”
Contrary to fears of AI displacing human workers, an ironic trend has emerged where people are being hired to refine AI’s imperfect output, as reported by NBC News on August 31.
Human touch still crucial for creative work
NBC reported that when generative AI first emerged, experts predicted it would replace humans across industries, with creative jobs and freelancers expected to be hit hardest.
However, some individuals have found new opportunities due to AI’s shortcomings. For instance, writers are being asked to refine ChatGPT-generated content, graphic designers are correcting flawed AI images, and even software developers are reportedly being hired to fix bugs AI-coded applications.
NBC analyzed recent data from freelance platforms like Upwork and Freelancer, revealing interesting trends. The data shows a surge in demand for various creative tasks this year, with clients increasingly seeking professionals who can work alongside AI technology.
Upwork’s data indicates that while AI automates low-skill repetitive tasks, demand for complex jobs like content strategy and creative direction is rising. Similarly, Fiverr reported a 250% increase in niche tasks such as watercolor children’s book illustrations and Shopify website design over the past six months.
A recent MIT study also found that AI is more likely to replace outsourced workers than full-time employees.
AI’s low-quality output presents challenges for improvement
Freelancers working with AI-generated content agree that fixing AI errors is far from ideal. While the pay helps cover bills, it’s often unsatisfactory, and job satisfaction remains low.
Carstens shared her challenges, stating that while some AI images only need minor changes, others require a complete redraw to meet quality standards. She expressed her difficulties that is sometimes takes longer than creating a design from scratch.
Kisha Richardson, a freelance writer who edits AI-generated articles, stated that learning and adapting is “all you can do.” She added, “I have some colleagues who are adamant about not working with AI. But I’m like, ‘I need money. I’m taking it.’”
