Ask HN: How's Business These Days for Upwork Freelancers?

by burnerToBetOuton 2/17/2026, 8:54 AMwith 5 comments

I wonder if or how AI-assistance might be used more these days. By either the freelancers in delivering their services, or by buyers who might be figuring they don't need to hire a freelancer for whatever reason these days.

by anovikovon 2/17/2026, 9:24 AM

I'm within top 40 Upwork freelancers by lifetime revenue and at one point was #11. Directly and indirectly extracted around $15M there.

It's dead. Noting to look at. It's not AI or interest rates, as it seems, the very dream of "getting rich quick through building a software product being a complete outsider" has waned, and people are no longer trying. Of course, it never worked. But it made money.

by verdvermon 2/17/2026, 9:30 AM

dupe from same author 7 hrs ago

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47042759