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From OpenAI's unleashing of ChatGPT in November 2022 to today's massive investment in global data centers that will house the infrastructure to fuel exponential AI growth the world is experiencing the fastest technological adoption in human history. Corporate America's measured response, marked by committees, pilot programs, and cautious experimentation has quickly shifted into fast-forward momentum.
In contrast, many Independents have embraced this new technology full throttle, viewing it not only as a chance to innovate but as a call to action in a rapidly evolving workforce. Technology has leveled the playing field, enabling smaller players to compete with major industry leaders. The numbers don't lie. They're using it to boost productivity, deliver better results for clients, and streamline their businesses. What started out as curiosity has turned into a significant competitive advantage.
Our third annual study on Gen AI, reveals a powerful reality: Three-quarters of America's independent workforce now uses Gen AI regularly, embracing AI faster and more enthusiastically than ever before.
Millions more independent workers will soon become users, making the independent workforce a large and growing source of experienced, on-demand Gen AI talent for organizations to access ─ not only to augment their existing Gen AI capabilities but also to introduce new and innovative ways of using Gen AI. Independent professionals with Gen AI expertise will bring value both to their businesses and their clients. This is good news for enterprises that are looking for tech-savvy independents who use AI to provide better project outcomes, improve efficiency in project delivery, and incorporate AI into solutions they deliver.
Gen AI Adoption Rate Among Independents Surges
Share of Independent Workers
Using Generative AI in Their Work
The velocity of Independents' Gen AI adoption is impressive. In 2023, barely one-third of independent workers had worked with Gen AI. By 2024, that figure nearly doubled to 65%. This year, that number is 74% and still climbing.
But here's what stands out: These aren't tire-kickers or casual users. One in four Independents now use Gen AI frequently, a nearly 50% jump from 2023.
Share of Independent Workers
Using Generative AI in Their Work
GATE
Independents are also making extensive use of generative AI, applying it across a wide range of tasks. Research, idea generation, writing, and creative projects remain the most common application, but usage continues to expand. In 2025, Independents, on average, reported using Gen AI in 3.4 application areas, compared to 1.9 in 2023. This growth underscores how Independents have become true power users, extracting value from Gen AI year over year and applying it in ways that directly improve efficiency and output.
The Impossible Made Possible
What separates the winners from the losers in any business revolution? Winners see opportunity where others see threat. They act while others deliberate. They adapt while others resist.
Independent workers embody this spirit. Nearly 70% of those who use Gen AI say it's extremely useful (28%) or very useful (39%) in their work. These numbers are similar to our 2024 survey but significantly higher than in 2023 when 51% reported finding it extremely (26%) or very useful (25%). Notably, only 4% found it unhelpful in 2024, down from 15% in 2023.
How Useful is Gen AI?
% of Independents using AI
Reported Gen AI Skill Level
(Independents using Gen AI)
The confidence Independents have in their AI knowledge is equally striking. Almost eight in 10 (79%) Independents rate their Gen AI skills as intermediate or advanced, in line with our 2024 survey results. Independents are becoming skilled practitioners ─ historically quick adopters of new technology ─ who understand the way that AI can help them produce better results.
And they are hungry to learn more and improve their skills. Most (74%) prioritize continued Gen AI training, knowing that tools are evolving so rapidly that standing still means falling behind. According to our interviews, Independents are taking online courses, experimenting regularly, and sharing knowledge with fellow practitioners.
The Productivity Machine
Time is money, especially for Independents who bill by the hour or project. Gen AI has become a critical tool for efficiency. It complements their work, helping them complete a broad range of tasks more effectively.
The average Independent saves nine hours per week by using Gen AI-time previously consumed by repetitive tasks, research, and writing. That's more than a full workday now available for more high-value activities each week.
Share of Independents Using AI Agreeing with the Statement
AI is Driving Business Growth
The real magic is happening in how Independents are growing their business. More than half of Independents report that AI is creating new client opportunities, enabling service expansion, and helping them enter markets that were previously out of reach. It's the great equalizer, giving Independents the tools they need to complete projects that once required entire teams-and compete with larger firms.
As one Independent told us, "AI doesn't just make me faster-it makes me bigger." That's the kind of power that reshapes entire industries.
Gen Z - The Innovation Generation
The generational divide in AI adoption reads like a case study in technological disruption. Gen Z (18-29) leads the charge with 87% adoption, followed by Millennials (30-44) at 77%, Gen X (45-60) at 68%, and Boomers (61+) at 57%.
AI Usage Rate by Age Cohort
Independent Workers %
Share of Independents Using AI Agreeing with the Statement by Age Cohort
But adoption rates only tell part of the story. Younger workers use AI more often and get greater value from it. Seventy-seven percent of Gen Z Independents call AI extremely or very useful, compared to just 42% of Boomers.
These workers don't just understand and feel comfortable with new technology. They see possibility where others see obstacles and are embracing change. As a generation who grew up in a digital world, Gen Z has accepted AI as part of their tech-enabled reality.
Looking Forward: The Confidence of AI Champions
Perhaps the most interesting finding in our survey is how few Independent workers fear being replaced by AI. Despite endless media predictions of mass unemployment, only 5% strongly believe their jobs are at risk over the next three years. Nearly 60% actively disagree with this statement.
This confidence isn't naïve or overly optimistic; it's grounded in real-world experience and practical insight. Independent workers understand Gen AI's limitations because they work with it daily. They see shortcomings, such as hallucinations, data errors, and lack of common sense. They know what AI can and can't do because they don't blindly rely on it and approach it with healthy skepticism.
More importantly, they understand something that those who fear it don't: AI can't replace human judgment, creativity, or relationships. Instead, it can enhance these qualities. The most successful independent workers are partnering with AI rather than competing with it.
Looking even further out, more than half feel that their work is not at risk of being replaced by Gen AI beyond the next three years. Less than one-third (29%) feel that AI might pose a threat to their work in the future.
While some workforce experts forecast a reduction in employment because of Gen AI, Independents feel they will continue learning how to benefit from Gen AI rather than be replaced by it. This is the ongoing debate that will be played out in the coming years. In the past, Independents have succeeded in adapting their skills and service offerings based on new technological developments. Their abilities will be tested again with Gen AI.
The Entrepreneurial Edge
Independent workers, who are entrepreneurs and rely on themselves for their own skill-building, are accustomed to adapting quickly, learning continuously, and finding opportunity in the midst of uncertainty. These traits, honed over years of navigating the freelance economy, prove invaluable in the Gen AI era.
MBO's State of Independence research spanning 15 years consistently shows independent workers as optimistic early adopters committed to skill development. They don't have to wait for permission to try new tools or access training programs. They experiment, fail fast, iterate quickly, and emerge stronger as a result.
This mindset explains why 69% express positive emotions about AI-hope (45%) and excitement (24%)-while only 31% report worry or feeling overwhelmed. They see AI as another step in their career journey.
Independents give companies a strategic advantage
This army of AI-savvy independent workers represents more than individual success stories. They're becoming a strategic asset for smart organizations. Companies struggling to build internal AI capabilities can tap into millions of experienced practitioners who've already mastered these tools. Independent workers offer not just technological skills but innovative thinking-along with fresh perspectives on how AI can solve problems and create added value.
The consulting industry learned this lesson with digital transformation. Instead of hiring more consultants, forward-thinking organizations partnered with Independents who had deep expertise in specific technologies. The same dynamic is playing out with AI, and independent workers are well positioned to be go-to experts.
Independents Are the New AI Power Players
Independent workers are the early adopters who became power users, the experimenters who became experts, the risk-takers who became proven winners.
This isn't just a story about technology adoption ─ it's one of entrepreneurial spirit and the desire to succeed. It's about highly skilled professionals who saw the future coming and positioned themselves to profit from it.
The most successful companies will recognize this reality and find ways to harness the skills and expertise of these Independents. Those that don't will find themselves competing not just against others in their field, but against a distributed network of AI-powered professionals who've already figured out how to do more with less.
How We Used Gen AI in This Study
Like most independent workers, we used Gen AI tools to assist us with this research project. We used Anthropic's Claude to help us with background research, outlines, initial drafts, and the development of survey and interview questions. We used Otter.ai to transcribe interviews which were entered into Claude for analysis.
We also used Microsoft Bing's Gen AI Copilot and Perplexity for background research. These tools provide source references, which is useful when conducting and validating background research.
Using Gen AI increased our project productivity by roughly 20%.