4 PM production // ShutterstockThe best-kept secret of top-performing teams isn’t AIAccess to skills matters more than headcount. Other Upwork research showed that 54% of skilled freelancers report advanced-to-expert AI proficiency and 62% use AI at least several times per week, versus 53% of their FTE peers. Those who employ blended teams — FTEs for context and independent specialists for targeted skills like AI — see higher-quality, faster results. “Freelancers bring deep AI skills that complement our internal developers’ domain expertise, helping us accelerate that shift. To reach their most ambitious goals, future-ready teams balance employees for continuity, freelancers for edge skills, and AI for acceleration.