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Freelancing has entered a new phase. Businesses aren't just outsourcing small tasks anymore -- they're building products, launching AI tools, and running long-term projects with freelance talent.

Hiring for AI skills is skyrocketing, but it's not displacing the need for other skills, according to a new report. The demand for AI-related skills, like using AI in creative or analytics work, more than doubled in the last year, compared to 23% growth for other high-demand skills, according to the latest report from Upwork, the freelancer and contract-worker marketplace.