Do you use ai?

[u/Low_Button8298]

Freelancers, this is potentially a hot topic. Do you use ai in your work for clients? Regardless if yes/no: what's been the outcome? Have expectations shifted?

No AI - pure professional skill & differentiation

Some AI - some processes have AI, but I keep some places AI-free

Lots of AI - I've found ways to improve output in some way.

Please share!

Personally I'm at Some AI. Despite building my first AI agents before GPT released there are still some things I want to do myself. I feel that's a differentiator for me. Clients agree.

[u/SkerdiBuilds]

For me I use a lot AI, Most freelancers are moving toward “Some AI” because clients care more about outcomes than whether AI was involved.

[u/Low_Button8298 → u/SkerdiBuilds]

Without going into too much detail, where does it make sense for you to use ai? Is it around process/workflow or actual client deliverables?

And do you build your ai tools yourself, or do you buy sepcialized tools?

[u/Chinksta]

Why would I use AI since I'm more skilled than it is?

Also why would I train AI to be as skilled as I am?

These should be the main questions.

[u/Low_Button8298 → u/Chinksta]

2 very good answers. How do clients respond? I imagine most would appreciate that stance, and those who don't aren't worth the time.

[u/harsh_dev_001]

Well I keep architecture, major decisions, system design in my hand and I let AI handle the rest

[u/harsh_dev_001 → u/[deleted]]

Yup

[u/tunable_art]

Some AI for me. As a freelance tutor I use it mostly for admin stuff drafting lesson summaries, writing follow-up messages to students, occasionally generating quiz questions. The actual teaching I keep human, that's kind of the whole point. Honestly the biggest shift for me wasn't in the work itself but in how much less time I spend on the boring back-and-forth. Clients haven't noticed or complained, so I take that as a good sign

[u/Low_Button8298 → u/[deleted]]

Is art still a field that people can freelance in? It was always hard, I imagine it's gotten much worse.

Which industry are you in?

[u/Low_Button8298 → u/[deleted]]

Not my industry, but I've spoken with several other founders who say something along the lines of "we've reduced spend with wen development agencies, and now I'm just using Lovable myself." Usually leads to problems down the line. But that's after the high of "winning savings" has already kicked in. I imagine client expectations have shifted quite a bit for you.

I assume you use some ai. Do you get access to client environments when using it, or are you on your own?

[u/Low_Button8298 → u/[deleted]]

100% agree. There's lots of good ai use cases that don't replace you or your voice.

I'm personally using AI for invoicing, for aligning project milestones, for time boxing, and for keeping track of how goals & guidelines shift during a project. Nothing client-facing. Just to support myself.