Fiverr, the net market for freelancers, introduced that it’s shedding about 250 full-time workers members as a part of an effort to rework itself into an “AI-first firm.” The layoffs will have an effect on about 30% of the corporate’s workers and are a part of what CEO Micha Kaufman known as a “painful reset” in a message to his workers, which he additionally posted on X—although definitely one which shall be extra painful for the employees shedding their jobs than for him.
Kaufman claims the layoffs mark Fiverr returning to “startup mode” regardless of being a 16-year-old firm. His objective, in accordance with the memo, is to show Fiverr into “an AI-first firm that’s leaner, quicker, with a contemporary AI-focused tech infrastructure, a smaller group, every with considerably higher productiveness, and much fewer administration layers.” That new model of Fiverr, he claims, received’t “want as many individuals to function the present enterprise.”
Whereas a big chunk of the workers that runs the corporate is being let go, Kaufman stated the neighborhood of freelancers who depend on the platform to land small gigs shouldn’t fear: “Relaxation assured that your online business on Fiverr received’t be impacted in any method all through this transformation. Our dedication to empowering you and democratizing entry to alternatives stays steadfast.”
Your mileage might fluctuate on how a lot you belief that assertion for those who’re a freelancer relying on a circulate of enterprise from Fiverr’s market. A freelancer who sells net design providers on Fiverr, as an illustration, was fairly peeved concerning the firm launching its personal AI webpage builder. Earlier this yr, Fiverr launched a collection of AI instruments as a part of its new Fiverr Go platform, which permits freelancers to coach AI on their very own work, a lot to the chagrin of freelancers who don’t already depend on generative AI to satisfy work requests. The corporate additionally beforehand ran an advert marketing campaign claiming “no one cares” if work is accomplished by an individual or AI.
The writing on the wall for Fiverr workers was changing into extra evident in current months. In Might, Kaufman despatched a company-wide e mail informing workers, “AI is coming on your jobs.” In an interview with CBS, he stated that he wished to see employees “double or triple the output per unit of time, and the identical for the standard,” and inspired his workers to attempt to automate as a lot of their very own job as attainable. “That may elevate the query, will that make them replaceable? And my reply is totally not,” he instructed CBS. About 250 folks may disagree.
Kaufman was a bit of extra blunt in a June look on the podcast 20VC. In reference to his letter to workers that AI is coming for his or her jobs, the CEO requested, “Why do you suppose it’s my duty to make you higher as professionals? Fuck you,” and complained that too many individuals don’t need to work and are “both going to be poor or a burden on society.” Looks as if a pleasant man to work for.
