Monday dawned rather unexpectedly for 4,000 employees of the platform Fiverr.

They received an email from CEO Micha Kaufman, who warned them of a future resembling something out of a science fiction script:

Micha Kaufman, founder of the world’s largest freelance platform, urged for “radical honesty”. In his message, he noted:

According to the World Economic Forum report, by 2030, 22% of current jobs will undergo transformation due to AI and automation. This means 170 million new jobs will be created, but 92 million will vanish. These changes are no longer distant speculation—they’ve already begun.

Marginalised communities, particularly LGBTIQ+, are especially vulnerable. At the same time, the digital economy opens fresh opportunities. Freelancing allows one to work remotely, sidestepping workplace discrimination. However, should AI replace these jobs, where does one go next?

Kaufman proposes that workers become “prompt engineers” and utilise AI to boost efficiency. He maintains that large language models are the “new foundations” of the economy. For the LGBTIQ+ community, this represents both a challenge and a unique opportunity. Queer people have always been adept at adapting to difficult circumstances, and now we can become pioneers in the AI sphere.

Research demonstrates that LGBTIQ+ individuals are often excluded from traditional career pathways. In the AI world, where skills and creativity matter more than personal identity, the community could occupy leading positions.

In Ukraine, where a full-scale war continues, the LGBTIQ+ community faces additional challenges. According to human rights organisations, the first half of 2024 recorded more homo- and transphobic incidents than the entire year of 2023. Under such conditions, mastering AI becomes not merely a professional skill, but a means of economic independence.

The project “ALLIANCE.GLOBAL” offers training for 200 LGBTIQ+ individuals in AI fundamentals through the Google AI Essentials course in Ukrainian. Further details can be found in our previous publications.

From Freelancing to Leadership

Kaufman’s advice includes mastering prompt engineering, utilising AI to enhance productivity, and creating one’s own learning opportunities.

Why This Matters Right Now

By 2030, the younger generation will comprise 30% of the workforce, with a significant proportion identifying as LGBTIQ+. Preparing the community for the digital economy will determine its place in the future. As Kaufman remarked, “if you’re working as you did in 2024, you’re doing it wrong”.