The rise of artificial intelligence has put the cat among the pigeons for freelance creatives, with more than four in ten believing the tech will negatively affect their industry over the next five years, but two in ten insisting it will have a positive impact.
According to a survey of freelancers and self-employed professionals, carried out by The Accountancy Partnership, 43.3% of workers in creative fields including marketing, writing, design, and the arts believe AI will have a negative impact on their role, reflecting growing uncertainty across the sector.
However, the research also suggests that views on AI are far from unanimous, with one in five creatives believing AI will have a positive impact, while others expect it to change the industry without completely replacing human work.
The findings come as AI becomes increasingly embedded in creative workflows, with tools capable of generating text, images, video and audio becoming widely available to businesses.
The rise of AI has sparked intense debate across the creative industries, with some professionals concerned that automation could replace certain types of work, while others believe the technology will ultimately enhance creativity and productivity.
The Accountancy Partnership managing director Lee Murphy said: “AI is clearly becoming a major talking point across the creative industries. Our research shows that many freelancers are still unsure how the technology will ultimately affect their work.
“AI has the potential to help creative professionals work more efficiently and explore new ideas, but it also raises understandable concerns about job security and the value of human creativity.”
Despite these pressures, many creative professionals remain optimistic about the future.
The survey found that nearly two thirds are confident they will match or exceed last year’s profits, highlighting the resilience of the creative sector.
Murphy said adaptability has always been a defining strength of the creative industry. “Creative professionals are constantly evolving, learning new tools and adapting to new technologies. While AI is changing the landscape, many are already finding ways to incorporate it into their workflows while continuing to offer uniquely human creative value.”
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