This is IkeHaya.
Are you still grinding away today?
Lately, I've come to realize that freelancing has become incredibly tough.
I was originally one of those people who hyped up "freelancing is recommended."
In my books and on YouTube, I generally advocated for the option of going independent as a freelancer.
If anyone is still believing that, I apologize.
Now, I no longer recommend "going independent as a freelancer."
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About 10 years ago, when crowdsourcing became widespread, it was truly easy to make a living as a freelancer.
It's hard to believe now, but back then, even "unemployed" or "students" could earn around 150,000 to 200,000 yen a month by working hard at crowdsourcing.
If you could use a computer and had basic communication skills, reaching 50,000 or 100,000 yen in your first month was normal.
Even people who found it difficult to leave home could earn 100,000 or 150,000 yen from home.
Looking back, it was an amazing era.
Of course, most of the work was boring.
After all, the majority of it was work anyone could do.
There were also tons of low-paying jobs where taking them would result in earnings below minimum wage.
But if you went there, there was work.
The former crowdsourcing platforms served as a kind of safety net.
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The "entry-level white-collar labor" that once existed on crowdsourcing platforms has now been completely replaced by AI.
Transcription, blog writing, video editing, website creation, logo design, online secretarial work... They are almost extinct.
The line of freelance work that was reasonably lucrative has rapidly disappeared over the past year or so.
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It's not just entry-level labor that is tough. Highly specialized professions are also crumbling rapidly.
For example, game development.
Originally, this was highly skilled work where game designers created concepts and scenarios.
Now, even amateurs like me can create decent games if we have the motivation and grit.
Thanks to that, downloads for "Tsukishoku Kitan" continue to grow, and players are steadily increasing.
Since I'm currently using AI to create 3D assets, I know that complex costume avatars are faster done by humans.
But, they will be able to do it in a year. Or maybe in three months...
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White-collar freelancers essentially provide "specialized skills" on a contract basis.
Those "specialized skills" that were their selling point can now be replaced by AI.
Not only replaced, but AI is cheaper, faster, and doesn't complain.
If you were a business owner, you'd absolutely choose that.
So, with this, I, IkeHaya, am changing my stance.
I basically do not recommend going independent as a freelancer.
If you plan to go independent as a freelancer from now on, you need serious resolve.
The word "freelance" comes from "mercenary (free lance)."
With just your own spear, you can survive on any battlefield.
Without that kind of spirit and skill, it's already impossible.
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The benchmark is Yuki-maru-san, who just went independent as a freelancer in July.
Yuki-maru-san abandoned a full-time position earning 10 million yen annually to start freelancing in the mountains of Kochi.
It seems reckless, and I saw comments saying things like "he's ruining his life because IkeHaya hyped him up," but such worries are entirely unnecessary.
He hit 2 million yen in sales in his first month, and his free AI seminars are always sold out.
https://x.com/Yuki0_0Maru/status/2102598204269482398
https://x.com/Yuki0_0Maru/status/2102566272693326162
At Yuki-maru-san's level, he won't struggle to make ends meet.
And if looking at him makes you think, "I could probably do that too," then going independent as a freelancer might be viable.
If you don't feel that way, you should stop.
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So, how should most white-collar workers live?
I'm becoming conservative, which makes me feel old, but
"Working as an employee at a good company while doing side hustles using AI" is the smartest path.
At a good company, you can work 9-to-5 and take paid leave.
Live off your salary, pay for AI subscriptions, and use Claude Code on your phone during commutes or breaks to build what you love.
It might sound unromantic, but this is the optimal solution right now.
Ultimately, this is the route with the widest door.
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However, white-collar employees aren't safe either.
Especially if you haven't touched models like Opus 5.5, you really need to be careful.
AI capable of suddenly eliminating jobs has already arrived.
From now on,
"Wearing a suit, commuting, and working at a major corporation"
will itself become rare. More people will be fired from companies and forced into freelancing.
But it's not sweet enough for those thrown out to easily eat.
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I am creating a place slightly detached from capitalism in a remote mountain village in Kochi.
Currently, I rent one community house, but since some profit might remain this year, I'm considering adding 1-2 more houses.
People who became freelancers but can't make ends meet, yet want to keep trying.
They train for half a year to a year and become somewhat self-sufficient.
I want to build infrastructure for that.
I think I can save about 5 or 10 people...
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The lifestyle of freelancing itself remains important.
Since it's a world where you could be thrown onto the battlefield at any time, everyone should acquire a "freelance mindset."
Let's hone the strength and resolve to say, "From here on, I'll rely on my own spear," while we still can.
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Finally, a promotion.
"Tsukishoku Kitan," made entirely with AI, received a major version update yesterday! I'm glad you're enjoying the new features.
https://x.com/IHayato/status/2104052956194853097
Version 1.0.3 is also in development. In addition to content additions and stability improvements, we expect to reduce the file size by another 250MB.
Please play it as a sample showing that "with AI, even one person can make something this good."
And if you can build this much, you won't struggle to eat.
Let's keep stacking up our efforts.
