AI and Reverse Globalisation

AI and Reverse Globalisation

by Timothy Coleman - 22/May/2025

From Local Freelancing to Global Platforms

When I began as a freelance software engineer in London, competition was considerably less. Then platforms such as PeoplePerHour, Upwork and Fiverr opened the software development market globally. This made it easier for organisations to find lower cost labour but increasingly made it difficult for local freelancers to secure work.

The Rise of AI-Powered In-House Development

Today, AI coding tools can generate junior to mid-level code rapidly within an organisation. By dictating requirements to an AI agent rather than outsourcing projects through a project manager (who might not fully understand the tech), companies may choose to bring development back in-house, reversing previous globalisation trends.

Impacts on Outsourced Call Centres

Similarly, banks once employed on-site business managers but later shifted to overseas call centres, eroding the bank-manager-knows-your-personal-circumstances dynamic. As AI chatbots become more capable of handling complex queries, organisations may replace human-operated centres with automated systems and do more work 'in house'.

Rethinking Business Relationships

The shift from global platforms to AI-driven local workflows could reshape business-to-business and cross-border relationships. Firms might favour the efficiency and control of in-house AI agents over the cost savings of overseas outsourcing, potentially fostering deeper local engagement.

Conclusion

AI coding and chatbots are not merely technologies but may lead to a sort of "reverse globalisation" where organisations—and (intentional em dash) even nation states—become increasingly introspective. Is this good or bad? Let us know!