There’s a standard saying in enterprise that it is best to “fish the place the fish are,” in different phrases, focus your efforts within the locations the place you’re prone to discover success. In terms of freelance tech work as we speak, there are many metaphorical “fish” in AI.
From writing efficient prompts for AI chatbots to understanding the way to check deep studying fashions, understanding the nuances of AI techniques and the way to use them provides you a beneficial edge. Learn on to study which expertise are finest fitted to freelancers who wish to reel in some new enterprise.
The highest AI expertise for freelancers
The freelancing platform Upwork not too long ago analyzed information from the primary half of 2023 (January to June) to see which AI-related expertise firms sought out when hiring freelancers for initiatives. Listed below are the highest 10 generative AI expertise and instruments that firms seemed for — and the programs and paths to take to begin studying them as we speak.
Be taught one thing new free of charge
1. ChatGPT
No shock right here, ChatGPT is a scorching ability that AI practitioners ought to know in the event that they wish to discover generative AI work. In the event you’ve performed round with the chatbot in your each day life, you know the way highly effective and versatile ChatGPT may be. You may take your ChatGPT information to the subsequent stage with our free course Intro to ChatGPT, then strive our ChatGPT case research to sharpen your immediate engineering expertise. If you wish to discover ways to keep forward of AI developments, you may take a look at our course Be taught the Position and Impression of Generative AI and ChatGPT.
2. Pure language processing (NLP)
NLP is the vary of strategies that computer systems use to course of language with AI. NLP is the explanation why ChatGPT can perceive our written requests and autocorrect can predict what we’re going to kind subsequent. You may study all about how computer systems work with human language and full a portfolio-ready mission in our ability path Apply Pure Language Processing with Python.
3. TensorFlow
This framework is used to develop, prepare, and check deep studying fashions. Corporations like Google and Airbnb use TensorFlow to combine machine studying capabilities into their merchandise, so it’s a well known framework to have listed in your resume. If you understand Python and NumPy and are conversant in the fundamentals of machine studying, you may take our ability path Construct Deep Studying Fashions with TensorFlow.
4. Picture processing
Language fashions and machine studying algorithms can be utilized to explain and classify photographs, a method often known as picture processing. Picture processing comes up in numerous eventualities throughout plenty of totally different fields. For instance, picture processing can be utilized to boost the visible high quality of a picture, detect objects in laptop imaginative and prescient duties, or analyze medical imagery. You may delve into this discipline in our course Deep Studying with TensorFlow: Picture Classification.
5. PyTorch
PyTorch is an open-source framework with an optimized tensor library (primarily based on the Torch library) used for deep studying. You may set up PyTorch free of charge — simply ensure you have the NumPy module first.
6. AI content material creation
Organizations are in search of proficient of us who know the way to use AI to create content material — from weblog articles to social media posts and extra. Within the course Immediate Engineering for Advertising, we’ll stroll you thru the way to leverage ChatGPT to create advertising and marketing content material.
7. Midjourney
Utilizing Discord bot instructions, you may enlist Midjourney to create photographs, animations, and different inventive output primarily based on textual content prompts. Midjourney can be utilized to rapidly make ads, logos, thumbnails, or prototypes. You may also use the text-to-image bot as a brainstorming instrument if you want inspiration. Wish to study extra about different enterprise instances for AI-generated photographs? Attempt the case research Creating Advertising Belongings with Generative AI to discover ways to use DALLE-2 to make logos and different photographs.
8. AI chatbot
Creating an AI chatbot that may simulate human dialog is a good way to get launched to AI — and coding generally. In our ability path Construct Chatbots with Python, we’ll train you the way to use the beginner-friendly language Python to create rules-based and generative chatbots. Already know some Python? You may bounce in with the bite-sized course Language Fashions in Python: Generative Chatbots.
9. Mannequin tuning
A key step in deep studying workflow is mannequin tuning, the method of configuring parameters and experimenting with a mannequin to fine-tune its output. Learn this text to study extra about how neural networks are utilized to real-world eventualities, and the place mannequin tuning is available in.
10. Steady Diffusion
One other text-to-image AI instrument, Steady Diffusion makes use of a diffusion mannequin to generate visuals which can be much like the fabric it was educated on. The consequence: You may create high-quality photo-realistic photographs from any pure language immediate. For instance, right here’s how Steady Diffusion interprets the immediate: “A contract internet developer utilizing AI instruments.”

Learn how to begin freelancing in AI
Getting a contract facet hustle off the bottom can take a whole lot of effort and time (particularly if you happen to’re additionally balancing studying to code or working a full-time gig). Listed below are some basic suggestions for freelancing within the age of AI.
Familiarize your self with AI functions
As a freelancer, you is likely to be anticipated to work with a variety of various instruments relying on the shopper’s wants. It may be onerous to maintain up with all the buzzy new AI functions which can be launching as builders faucet into generative AI’s potential. When you don’t should be an skilled in each single AI instrument, it is best to know the similarities and variations between common AI instruments and the way to decide on the correct AI answer for a mission.
Not like a full-time employer who could pay for persevering with training or present on-the-job skilled growth, freelancers should find time for studying, researching, and training these instruments exterior of billable hours. Signing up for a Codecademy Plus membership is a superb alternative for freelancers who wish to proceed constructing in-demand expertise for initiatives at their very own tempo.
Revamp your resume
As you choose up extra AI-related expertise, you’ll additionally should replace the best way that you just market and supply your freelance companies. Including AI phrases to your resume or skilled web site is one solution to get found and employed for work.
Based on a LinkedIn report printed in August, there’s been a 75% uptick in LinkedIn members including AI-specific key phrases every month since January. The highest phrases that folks use on LinkedIn to draw new AI enterprise embrace “GAI” (brief for generative AI), “ChatGPT,” “immediate engineering,” and “immediate crafting.”
Community the AI method
Discovering purchasers and sustaining relationships (to not point out following up on invoices and holding monitor of contracts) is a big a part of freelancing. See if there are methods you may streamline your course of utilizing AI. For instance, you could possibly use generative AI that can assist you write follow-up emails to purchasers. Or you could possibly have ChatGPT assist you develop a advertising and marketing technique in your freelance enterprise. If you’d like much more concepts, learn this weblog about the way to community with ChatGPT.
You should definitely learn the weblog for extra freelancing recommendation, together with suggestions for locating freelance tech jobs and inquiries to ask your self earlier than going freelance.