Paper Title
The Future of Freelance: Ai-Powered Business Models in the Creative Platform Economy

Abstract
The rise of platform-based business models has significantly redefined the structure of freelance work in the creative industries. While early gig economy platforms like Fiverr and Up work prioritised transactional efficiency and market liquidity, their scale-driven, commission-based models often compromise creative autonomy, reduce differentiation, and erode long-term user engagement. In contrast, a new generation of AI-enhanced e-business platforms exemplified by Contra and Cosmos has emerged, introducing alternative approaches to value creation, user experience, and platform governance tailored to the needs of modern creative professionals. This study investigates how AI-enabled capabilities are embedded within the business models of creative e-business platforms and explores their implications for value creation, user empowerment, and strategic differentiation. Adopting a comparative case study methodology, the research applies the Business Model Canvas and Business-IT Alignment frameworks to analyse selected platforms' strategic orientation, AI applications, and service design. Key areas of inquiry include intelligent matchmaking systems, personalised recommendation engines, community governance mechanisms, and ethical UX strategies. Beyond examining technical functionalities, the study positions these platforms within a broader socio-economic context, where evolving expectations of creative labour intersect with shifting value, ownership, and participation models in digital environments. The paper draws from platform theory, AI ethics, and digital strategy literature to assess how emerging business models respond to the unique challenges of facilitating high-context, emotionally embedded creative work. By articulating the intersection between AI technologies, business model innovation, and the cultural dynamics of creative work, this paper contributes to current discourses in digital strategy, platform studies, and e-business transformation. It advances a critical understanding of how intelligent systems can be harnessed to enable operational optimisation and equitable, human-centred ecosystems within the platform economy. The insights derived offer practical implications for platform designers, strategic decision-makers, and researchers concerned with the evolving role of AI in shaping the future of freelance economies. Keywords - Artificial Intelligence, Creative Economy, E-business Strategy, Freelance Platforms