The rise of general-purpose AI is challenging the business models of startups that rely on basic, repeatable tasks. Companies like Chegg, which provides academic answers, saw revenue drop 39% in 2025 and 51% in the second quarter of 2026. This shift forces firms to move beyond simple features toward deeper workflows or proprietary data.
Search-based content platforms face declining traffic as AI summaries directly resolve user queries. A 2025 Pew Research study noted that links within AI summaries received only 1% of clicks. Similarly, Ahrefs estimated a 58% reduction in click-through rates for top-ranking results when AI Overviews are present.
Creative and stock imagery sectors are experiencing significant pressure. A CESifo study reported a 17% decline in image-creation job postings. Klarna saved $1.5 million in image production costs in Q1 2024 using AI. Shutterstock reported that Q2 2026 content revenue fell 17% to $165.7 million.
Copywriting and translation services are also affected as AI becomes a standard feature in office software. A 2024 Society of Authors survey found 36% of translators lost work due to AI. Meanwhile, transcription services face competition from built-in OS tools and open-source models like Whisper, which developers can now host at lower costs.
