New evidence on the impact of AI on the work of freelancers

Summary

In this paper Jin Liu, Xingchen (Cedric) Xu, Yongjun Li, and Yong Tan provide an insightful analysis of the impact of ChatGPT on online labor markets. The study, set against the backdrop of the evolving labor market due to technological advancements and globalization, focuses on how ChatGPT as a disruptive technology influences transaction volumes and service provisions in online labor platforms like Freelancer and Taskrabbit.

The researchers implemented a Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach to explore the effects of ChatGPT on text-related jobs and freelancers on a notable online labor platform. This platform connects freelancers from various fields such as development, writing, and photography, offering a vast array of services or "gigs". The study