MBO's New Independence Data Says AI-Literate Freelancers Are Becoming a Hiring Advantage

If you hire freelancers, contractors, or part-time specialists, MBO Partners has a blunt message in its latest State of Independence data: the independent workforce is already deep into AI, and that changes what good hiring looks like.

The headline numbers are hard to ignore. MBO says 74% of independents use AI in their work, 61% say it saves time and increases output, and 42% rely on digital platforms to find work. The report also says 32% serve global clients and 5.6 million independents now earn more than $100,000 a year. MBO State of Independence

That matters to small businesses because it changes the standard freelance interview question. The old question was, "Can you do this task?"

The better question now is, "How do you use AI without making me review everything twice?"

That sounds obvious, but it is not how a lot of owners are hiring. Many still treat AI as a bonus skill instead of an operating standard. MBO's report suggests that is backward. The people most likely to produce fast, useful work are the ones who already have a workflow for research, drafting, revision, and client delivery.

MBO's 2025 AI report makes the point even more clearly. It says independents use generative AI in 3.4 application areas on average, up from 1.9 in 2023, and that the average independent saves nine hours per week with AI. MBO AI report

For owners, that has three practical implications.

First, pay attention to where the freelancer gets work. If someone is comfortable using digital platforms, they are probably also used to faster onboarding and clearer scopes.

Second, ask how they use AI in the workflow. A good answer sounds like process, not hype. You want to hear how they speed up research, draft faster, and still keep quality control tight.

Third, stop assuming AI skill is a separate category from the job. In a lot of freelance work now, it is part of the job.

That is especially true if you are hiring for marketing, operations, customer support, bookkeeping cleanup, design, or lead generation. The freelancer who knows how to use AI well is not just faster. They may also be better at handling more client work without bringing you the lag that comes from overmanual processes.

The most useful line in the MBO data may be the least flashy one. Independents are not treating AI like a toy or a threat. They are treating it like leverage.

That is a clue for owners. If your contractor still works like it is 2022, you are probably paying for more manual labor than you need.

Owner takeaway: When you hire independent talent, ask how they use AI, what they automate, and how they keep output clean. The answer will tell you more about the real cost of the engagement than the hourly rate.

Sources: MBO Partners State of Independence | MBO Partners 2025 AI Report