The Shift Toward AI-Driven Website Creation

An increasing number of American entrepreneurs are bypassing professional web developers in favor of artificial intelligence to launch their online presence. Recent data indicates a significant transformation in how small businesses approach digital infrastructure, with many opting to build their sites independently using advanced AI tools.


Research commissioned by Bluehost highlights that 53% of business owners surveyed have already adopted AI website builders. This trend aligns with a dramatic drop in freelance programming job postings, particularly in core areas like website design, PHP, WordPress, and HTML development.


Measurable Benefits for Small Businesses

For many entrepreneurs, the move to AI is driven by efficiency and cost-effectiveness. According to the study, users of AI website generators reported significant advantages:

  • Average cost savings of $850 per project.
  • A reduction of approximately 32 working hours compared to hiring agencies or developers.
  • 85% of users claimed their websites would have looked fundamentally different without the intervention of AI technology.

Despite the high level of automation, human oversight remains critical. The report notes that only 9% of users launched their sites without making any modifications to the initial AI output. The vast majority of business owners engaged in refining their content (61%) and adjusting visual elements (60%) before going live.


Impact on the Freelance Market

The rise of AI adoption coincides with a sharp decline in freelance job opportunities. Data from Freelancer.com shows a marked contraction in demand for specific technical skills between 2024 and 2026:

«Website design advertisements saw a 59% decline, mirroring the downturn in PHP development projects, while WordPress and HTML assignments fell by 58% and 55% respectively.»

While these figures reflect trends within a single marketplace and do not prove a direct causal link to AI adoption, the decline in web development roles is notably steeper than in other categories, such as graphic design, which saw a smaller 43% reduction.


Future Outlook and Limitations

Despite the general satisfaction with AI—with 97% of respondents reporting at least moderate approval—entrepreneurs remain cautious about transparency. Only 50% of business owners expressed a willingness to disclose to their customers that their websites were created using AI.


Furthermore, while 94% of users continue to utilize AI for ongoing business operations, many prefer to maintain control over modifications. 54% of respondents stated they prefer to review every change, underscoring that while AI is an essential tool, it is not yet fully autonomous in the eyes of business owners.