Kenyans Made a Living Writing College Essays. Then A.I. Arrived.
Thousands of Kenyans made a living writing essays for overseas students. With A.I., the work has dried up, a warning for online gig work that has been a global lifeline.
TL;DR
- Teresios Bundi, from Kenya, found a lucrative online job writing essays for overseas college students.
- He estimated writing over 2,500 essays over 12 years, earning money to support himself and his family.
- This type of gig work provided opportunities for educated youths in countries like Kenya, the Philippines, and India.
- The release of AI tools like ChatGPT in 2022 has led to a significant decline in demand for freelance essay writing services.
- The disruption of this online gig work serves as a warning for the future of digital labor.