Is AI Taking Over the Freelance Writing Industry?

Something has changed in 2025.

I’m getting more client inquiries and hearing of more success from other freelance writers.

Back in 2024, it wasn’t like this.

I didn’t get many inquires and relied on my current client list, and all I saw on LinkedIn and X were posts about AI and how it’s ruining our freelance writing industry.

So, what gives?

I feel that the AI bubble finally burst and businesses are seeing how these tools are NOT saving them time or money (in the long run).

And I have proof for this claim!

What’s This About AI Taking Over?

If you’re a new freelance writer, then I’m sure you’ve heard of ChatGPT.

It’s all over the news of teens using it for therapy or how grown men are using it for companionship.

ChatGPT isn’t going away, and it’s only going to get more powerful.

So, when ChatGPT entered the scene, at first, I was like, “Oh, this sucks!”

And it did.

The first iteration of ChatGPT couldn’t write long paragraphs, was extremely repetitive and offered no new ideas, just regurgitated ones it learned.

I’m safe, I thought.

Well, fast-forward around ten months and I saw an improvement in AI. I started dabbling in AI and using it for my personal blogs.

I was finding success too, and decided to use more and more AI.

And then…..the clients that were hiring me, said it was OKAY to use AI….just make sure to run it through an AI detector tool (that they recommended).

Okay. So, businesses are okay as long as it comes out human.

Sure, I can use AI in my workflow and I did.

But, here’s the thing that many new writers forget or aren’t doing.

You CAN’T use AI on topics you know NOTHING about.

Here’s a comment I received and it sums up this idea:

So, for me, when I use AI for client work, I only use it for certain things like:

Helping me finish a sentence if I have writer’s block (which I have when I’m stressed out)
Give me examples (like podcasts examples or SME’s – subject matter experts)
Summarize an article for me for research
Find credible sources/stats (that I fact check)

You can see, I use AI as an assistant, and not a tool to take over.

I’m the writer, AI is the tool.

Freelance Writers Became Anxious And Lost Jobs

I’m not going to lie here, but there were freelance writers that lost jobs to AI.

But these weren’t just ANY freelance writers; they were “low level” SEO writers that were already trying to cut corners before AI came about.

There were other reasons or things that were happening during this time.

Clients were accusing writers of using AI (when they weren’t)
Because of the flood of AI writers, companies made the interview process grueling
With AI, companies started posting fake jobs

I mean 2024 was the wild wild west for the AI explosion and aftermath.

With all of this swirling around, of course, writers were anxious and scared.

Some of my students decided it wasn’t for them.

Others just went 100% into AI and promoted themselves as an AI writer for businesses where they can pump out 50 articles per day.

For me, I watched and analyzed.

I still landed clients and had clients tell me it’s okay to use AI.

I was okay and fine.

Then 2025 hit.

Companies Are Finding AI Isn’t Profitable

A report from the University of Copenhagen shared that out of 25,000 workers studied across 7,000 workplaces, the impact of AI was… underwhelming.

Most saw just a 3% time savings, and only a tiny portion of that led to noticeable income growth—around 3 to 7%.

The takeaway?

AI isn’t replacing everyone or unlocking massive productivity gains. At least not yet. Despite the hype, the numbers tell a different story.

And I’m seeing this LIVE in the wild with inquiries I’m getting.

One was an AI tool who explicitly told me they wanted original SME content, not AI at all to be used.

The other wanted SME content where I can share my experiences, and another one said something similar.

Companies were finding that chatbots or AI writers just weren’t saving them time. They even had to go and re-write the content or severely edit the content.

What This Means for Freelance Writers

I honestly feel 2025 is the start to a new landscape for content creation.

But this means there isn’t room for writers who cut corners or are trying to pump out content for a few bucks for dozens of clients.

This is the era to be the sought-after writer.

In my course, Writeto1k, I teach you how to build a sustainable freelance writing business so that you can become that go-to writer for businesses in a particular industry.

But, let’s go through some key areas you can start shaping today so that you can become that go-to writer.

1. Become an Expert in Your Niche

I have a lot of blog posts and YouTube videos on finding your profitable niche.

Why?

Because it’s uber important to have a niche that makes you money.

Not all freelance writing niches are profitable, but if money isn’t your end goal, then you can feasibly pick any niche and be happy about it.

I guess, though, that most people reading this want to start freelance writing to make a side income because they want to stay home.

I mean, that was a big reason why I wanted to try freelance writing.

But I didn’t have a niche I was an expert in when I first started.

I picked any and all niches to write for and you know what? It proved successful….in 2014.

I don’t believe this approach would be successful now (psst….Kelly’s comment I shared tells you why).

Instead, you need to find a niche and become the expert in that niche. This will take you time.

It took me several years to learn digital marketing and a few more to hone my niche to SaaS businesses.

So, when choosing your freelance writing niche it’s okay to pick one that is profitable.

Check out my video to get some ideas:

If you find one, then learn that niche inside and out.

It’s okay to use ChatGPT to LEARN about this niche.

Then find the clients or businesses in that niche and start engaging with them on social media.

I do this when I get inquiries from businesses.

I follow them on social media and interact with “them.” I’m pretty sure I’m interacting with the company’s social media marketing team but that’s okay!

2. Target Notable Brands

Another thing to beat AI or to come ahead of the AI “monster” is to target notable brands.

Now I’m not saying these big brands don’t use AI but the ones that have, have been burned. Remember when Men’s Health magazine were caught using AI?

Or more recently, US News sited a summer reading list but it was using AI to make up that list and AI recommended non-existent books to read.

But there are brands that value their message and content and want to work with good freelance writers.

So make a list of all the brands you want to work with, and then from there, create a client ladder where the top rung is your ultimate client brand and the lowest rung is the first step or first type of client to get to that notable brand.

I share this strategy in an Instagram post so make sure to check it out!

Now you have a plan and strategy to land notable brands for freelance writing!

3. Exceed Deadlines

Finally, you can work on exceeding deadlines. This is a HUGE thing you can do that goes a long way in a client’s eyes.

They remember the writers that go above and beyond, and I’ve built my freelance businesses off of this idea.

I always set an internal deadline that’s a few days ahead of the deadline.

I love getting work earlier than expected, so I know that clients will feel the same.

I have hired writers in the past, and I had some that did this and others who waited until the last minute of the day to turn in their work.

I was floored! If it’s due Friday, I’m working and waiting…12 pm goes, 3 pm goes, 5 pm goes, 8 pm goes oh and at 8:59 I get the piece.

I don’t work past 3 pm…and of course I’m not going to be that client that says, “due Friday, no later than 3pm.”

I mean NO ONE says that right?

But there are writers who take advantage and do this, and it makes me a bit angry that I waited all day to get the piece and now have to work on it the next day.

So, don’t be this type of writer!

Set an internal deadline and go by that only.

You need time to research the piece, write the content, edit the content and finalize the content.

I worked hard on writing 3,000 words quickly.

This meant I could turn in my work earlier and not be stressed out the rest of the week trying to scramble to finish the article.

But even if you can’t write fast, most clients give you 10 days to turn in your work. So you can set an internal deadline of 5 days and that should be enough time to have a completed article to turn in.

The New Age of AI

Things are still a bit unsure about AI, but for now I see the new age of AI backing off in the online content world and allowing us, the professionals, take over.

As a freelance writer, what are you seeing in your business or on social media regarding AI and writing?

Are you seeing the same as me or not?

I’d love to hear your perspective.