Can Monkey Will Take Out Your Trash Bins, HR No Considering Fractional Execs, Golden Age of Delivery Apps Is Over, and More...

Approximately 60 million independent workers in the United States represent $1.5 trillion in U.S. GDP and growing. Projections estimate that 50% of our U.S. workforce will be independent workers by 2025- 2030. The Gig Economy represents a trend that will digitally transform the future of work.

Every?organization?in?every industry?needs a Gig Economy strategy. Not having one is like missing the internet trend in 1990 or the mobile revolution in 2010.

?The Freelance Revolution

The Industrial Revolution of our time is the rise of independent contractors and the globalization of knowledge work. We can see the U.S. workforce undergoing a massive structural change.

Airbnb hosts are happily paying this startup $49 a month to take out the trash?- Marc Zagoury, from Scottsdale, Arizona, founded Can Monkey in 2018 to offer a service for homeowners and property managers to outsource the task of taking out and bringing back trash bins. The service, priced at $49 per month, is top-rated among Airbnb hosts, providing a solution for managing trash duties at rental properties. Can Monkey, which operates in 18 cities, employs gig workers, known as runners, who follow a DoorDash-like model to ensure timely trash bin management.

Here's what's in store for the gig economy in 2024, according to 7 Insiders?- In 2024, the gig economy is expected to decrease workers' earnings due to oversupply and regulatory changes, while consumers may face rising costs. There's a shift towards more advanced business models, including driverless vehicles and e-commerce integration. The industry focuses on profitability and unit economics, with technological advancements supporting workers. However, concerns about the impact of automation and legislation on the workforce remain.

TikTok Girlies Help Power A.I. Chatbots Through Data Annotation?- Young women, especially TikTok influencers, have become instrumental in A.I. development through data annotation, providing them with a lucrative and flexible side hustle; however, this reliance on a single demographic for tasks ranging from simple chatbot responses to complex activities like coding and translation raises concerns about potential biases in A.I. Despite the short-term financial benefits and significant influence on A.I., the long-term viability of data annotation as a career and its impact on A.I. quality and diversity remains to be determined.

Why some H.R. departments consider fractional execs when filling leadership positions?- Some H.R. departments consider fractional executives freelance business leaders hired temporarily for specific projects or to fill leadership gaps in response to rapid business transformations and complex challenges. This approach provides high-level expertise without the cost of a full-time executive salary. Fractional execs also help alleviate stress in the C-suite by managing corporate responsibilities with a precise end date and contributing unique perspectives and experiences.

The golden age of working for Instacart, DoorDash, and other delivery apps is over; workers say?- In 2023, delivery gig workers for apps like Instacart and DoorDash have seen a significant downturn in earnings compared to the peak of the pandemic in 2020, facing increased competition and lower pay due to a surge in the number of gig workers and a decrease in consumer demand. This change has led many to consider transitioning to traditional 9-to-5 jobs for better financial stability. Concurrently, new legislation in cities like Seattle and New York City is being introduced to improve gig workers' conditions. Still, some delivery services are resisting or halting operations, casting uncertainty on the future of this sector for workers such as Juan in Southern California.

A.I. Meets Talent: The Age of Generative AI

With the "Big Bang" moment in November 2022, OpenAI's ChatGPT was launched, ushering in a new era of generative A.I., accelerating the fusion of Technology and talent, and presenting challenges and opportunities for individuals and businesses alike.

The A.I. boom could force you to enter the gig economy?- The rise of generative A.I. is potentially increasing the number of Americans working in gig and freelance jobs as employers may prefer these flexible labor options over full-time employees, mainly when A.I. can automate parts of the work. Already, a record number of Americans are engaged in freelance or gig work, especially in fields such as programming and marketing, and this trend could be further accelerated by A.I., making some jobs easier or obsolete, thus pushing more people towards gig work. While adopting A.I. could lead to job displacement and a reduction in full-time employment benefits, it also offers opportunities for a more flexible and diverse workforce, prompting important questions about the future of work and the necessity for new strategies to ensure worker stability and access to benefits.

As A.I. Rises, So Do Calls For More Creativity?- The rise of artificial intelligence (A.I.) is paradoxically increasing the demand for human creativity and people skills in the workplace, as industry experts stress the need for innovative management that exceeds the capabilities of machines. Despite concerns about AI-induced job losses, the trend is more about transforming rather than eliminating jobs, underscoring the value of human interaction, creativity, and the basic understanding of A.I. technology. Looking ahead, the job market shaped by A.I. will see the emergence of new job categories, require significant upskilling in current roles, and undergo some disruptions, thereby elevating the importance of soft skills like creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence in the evolving employment landscape.

A.I. Is Coming for the Influencers?- A.I.'s integration into the advertising industry is marked by the emergence of virtual influencers, like Aitana, created through artificial intelligence tools, leading to concerns among human influencers about potential income threats. These A.I. creations are increasingly favored by brands for their cost-effectiveness, exemplified by campaigns like Meta's with virtual influencer Kuki, which significantly improved ad recall and reduced costs. This trend signals a shift in advertising tactics, where virtual influencers are utilized more for enhancing campaign metrics than entirely replacing human influencers, highlighting their role in specific economic functions such as increasing ad clicks and attention and posing a selective threat to certain aspects of the human influencer market.

7 business leaders reveal how their companies are embracing A.I. in 2024?- In 2024, business leaders from various sectors are embracing artificial intelligence (A.I.), as detailed in the article. These leaders, representing companies such as Ancestry, Boston Consulting Group, and LinkedIn, are integrating A.I. into their operations, highlighting its transformative impact on business processes and customer interactions. They emphasize A.I.'s potential to enhance efficiency and decision-making while addressing concerns about its responsible use and transparency. The article underscores the continuously evolving nature of A.I., with executives acknowledging the necessity of ongoing learning and adaptation to effectively and responsibly leverage A.I.'s capabilities in their respective industries.

Beyond the generative A.I. hype?- Jason Zintak, CEO of 6sense, emphasizes the evolving role of generative AI (GenAI) in business strategies, transitioning from a novelty to an essential element for enhanced effectiveness. He underscores A.I.'s longstanding impact on efficiency and job satisfaction across industries, highlighting GenAI's potential to significantly boost the global economy and job creation. Advocating for the imperative adoption of A.I. in business, Zintak illustrates its practical applications in saving time and enhancing work quality.

The Changing Workplace

We see unprecedented numbers of companies implementing remote work programs. How we work has forever changed and requires new skills and leadership approaches.

Big Tech layoffs shattered industry worker confidence?- Widespread layoffs in the Big Tech industry over the past two years have significantly impacted both leadership and workforce perspectives. These layoffs, amounting to nearly half a million job cuts, have unsettled executives and served as a wake-up call for tech workers, challenging the previous sense of job security. Despite some improvements in industry sentiment, the tech job market remains challenging, with difficulties persisting in finding new roles.

Boomers and Gen Z Don't Agree on Bosses Messaging Outside Work?- A poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies reveals differing opinions between generations about bosses contacting employees outside work hours. The survey indicates that 29% of Gen Z (aged 18-26) are always comfortable with after-hours contact from bosses, in stark contrast to only 6% of Boomers and the Silent Generation (59+). However, across all age groups, the most prevalent view is that the appropriateness of such contact is dependent on specific circumstances.

From 'lazy girl jobs' to 'quiet cutting,' here are the biggest workplace buzzwords of 2023 — and what they mean?- In 2023, new workplace trends emerged, encapsulated by terms like "lazy girl jobs," "quiet cutting," and "Bare Minimum Mondays." These buzzwords reflect evolving attitudes and strategies in employment, with "lazy girl jobs" representing low-stress positions and "quiet cutting" indicating subtle methods of reducing the workforce without direct layoffs. Additional trends such as "rage applying," "quiet hiring," and "career cushioning" further illustrate the changing dynamics of the modern workplace.

PAUL ESTES has been at the cutting edge of technology for over 20 years with leadership roles at Dell, Amazon, Microsoft, MURAL, MagicLeap, and Ally Robotics. He struggled to balance his life with these fast-moving leadership roles, so he hired his first virtual assistant, transforming how he lived and worked. He shares his experience in his best-selling book?Gig Mindset. It helps people and organizations understand that now is the time to address systemic?location bias?and encourage companies to reach beyond their organizational boundaries to engage the world's best minds.??

He is inspired by the work of the late?Leila Janah, author of?Give Work: Reversing Poverty One Job?at a Time, and her quote, "Talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not." This inspiration inspired Paul to lead a team of progressive H.R., procurement, and legal trailblazers to launch Microsoft's Gig Economy freelance program.??

Paul is the former host of the?Work on Demand Podcast. Each week, Paul provides insights and perspective to over 100,000 readers of his weekly LinkedIn newsletter, and he frequently shares his insights as a keynote speaker and panelist.

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