AI is making it easier for one worker to do tasks that once required a small team

See Me, Myself and AI by Liya Palagashvili of George Mason University’s Mercatus Center. Excerpts:

"AI is making it easier for one worker to do tasks that once required a small team."

"Since early 2024, solo business applications have risen nearly 27% in professional services, information, education, finance and insurance—sectors the that have among the highest AI-adoption rates. In construction and wholesale trade, where AI is less likely to enable independent work, solo business applications have been essentially flat."

"In 2022 and 2023, solo applications moved similarly in sectors with both high and low AI exposure. The divergence emerged after 2024 and then took off."

"Business applications with payroll intent fell by 6.4% in AI-exposed sectors, while applications unlikely to hire employees rose by 26.8%."

"Among occupations most exposed to AI, solo self-employment rose about 20% from 2022 to 2025. In the least AI-exposed occupations, it barely moved."

"it’s becoming cheaper to operate as a one-person business"