5 Ways Ordinary People Can Make Money with AI

“AI is so hot, can I use it to make money?”

“I heard some people make over 10,000 a month with AI. Is that true?”

“Can ordinary people without skills make money with AI?”

Recently, many people have asked me this question. Today I'll give you a clear answer:

Yes! And the barrier to entry is much lower than you think.

This article walks you through 5 ways ordinary people can make money with AI—there's bound to be one that suits you!

1. A few real cases first

Case 1: Xiao Wang, admin clerk, monthly income 3,000 → 8,000

Uses AI to write copy and make PPTs for others, takes orders in spare time, earning an extra 5,000 yuan a month.

Case 2: Xiao Li, stay-at-home mom, monthly income 0 → 5,000

At home, she uses AI to generate avatars and posters for others, taking orders via Xianyu and WeChat Moments.

Case 3: Zhang, traditional salesperson, monthly income 6,000 → 15,000

Uses AI to run a short-video account focused on a niche, earning ad revenue sharing plus product commissions—an extra 9,000 yuan a month.

Common points:

• They are all ordinary people
• None had professional skills
• All did it in their spare time
• All used AI to lower the barrier

2. 5 ways ordinary people can make money with AI

Route 1: AI content creation monetization

Core logic: Use AI to lower the barrier to content creation, produce content quickly, and monetize through platform traffic.

Best for: People with a desire to express themselves and a willingness to share.

Monetization methods:

• Ad revenue sharing on short-video/image-text platforms
• Traffic subsidies (Toutiao, Baijiahao, etc.)
• Fan tips
• Paid content

Specific steps:

1. Choose a platform: Douyin/Kuaishou/Xiaohongshu/Toutiao
2. Pick a niche: knowledge/emotion/lifestyle/entertainment
3. Use AI to produce content quickly:
   - Topic → AI brainstorms for you
   - Script → AI writes it
   - Images → AI generates them
   - Voiceover → AI completes it
4. Keep posting and build an audience
5. Enable traffic monetization

Estimated income:

• Just starting: 0–500 yuan/month
• Building phase: 500–3,000 yuan/month
• Steady phase: 3,000–10,000 yuan/month

Representative cases:

• Use AI to run a science account, posting 50 videos daily
• Use AI to run an emotional/relationship account, producing 10 articles daily

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Route 2: AI skill service monetization

Core logic: Use AI to help others solve problems and charge service fees.

Best for: Patient people who enjoy helping others solve problems.

Monetization methods:

• Write copy/articles for others
• Make PPTs for others
• Write/optimize resumes for others
• Generate logos/posters for others
• Write/debug code for others
• Create data analysis reports for others

Platforms for taking orders:

• Xianyu
• Taobao/Pinduoduo stores
• Zhubajie.com
• Proginn (Programmer's Inn)
• Tianxin Factory
• Various WeChat groups and Moments

Specific steps:

Step 1: Decide on the type of service
↓
Step 2: Open a store / publish services on a platform
↓
Step 3: Set pricing (refer to market rates)
↓
Step 4: Take orders → complete with AI → deliver
↓
Step 5: Build up good reviews → raise your rates

Pricing reference:

Estimated income:

• Just starting: 500–1,000 yuan/month
• Skilled phase: 2,000–5,000 yuan/month
• Reputation phase: 5,000–20,000 yuan/month

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Route 3: AI digital product monetization

Core logic: Use AI to create digital products—make once, sell many times.

Best for: Those with some experience who want to build passive income.

Types of digital products:

• AI-generated wallpapers/avatars (sell memberships/materials)
• AI-generated PPT templates
• AI-generated design asset packs
• AI-written ebooks
• AI-generated prompt collections
• AI tutorials/courses

Sales channels:

• Xianyu
• Xiaohongshu store
• Knowledge Planet
• Paid articles on WeChat Official Accounts
• Various material/asset websites

Specific steps:

Step 1: Decide on the product type
↓
Step 2: Generate content in bulk with AI
↓
Step 3: Package and organize it into a product
↓
Step 4: Set a price and list it for sale
↓
Step 5: Promote → passive income

Examples:

• Package 1,000 AI art prompts and sell for 99 yuan
• Create 100 PPT templates, sell membership at 199 yuan/year
• Write an AI user guide ebook, sell for 39 yuan

Estimated income:

• Just starting: 0–500 yuan/month
• Product ready: 1,000–3,000 yuan/month
• Scaled up: 5,000–50,000 yuan/month

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Route 4: AI e-commerce selling monetization

Core logic: Use AI to generate product-selling content and earn commissions on e-commerce platforms.

Best for: Action-oriented people willing to study platform rules.

Platform choices:

• Douyin/Kuaishou (short-video selling)
• Xiaohongshu (image-text product recommendations)
• Zhihu (selling through answers)
• Baijiahao (selling through articles)

Specific steps:

Step 1: Register for the e-commerce platform's selling permission
↓
Step 2: Choose products to sell (high commission, familiar to you)
↓
Step 3: Use AI to generate product copy/videos
↓
Step 4: Publish content with purchase links
↓
Step 5: Get orders → earn commissions

Product selection tips:

• High commission (30% or more)
• Easy to showcase with AI
• Few after-sales issues (virtual products/daily necessities)
• You've actually used or know them

Estimated income:

• Just starting: 0–500 yuan/month
• Getting familiar: 1,000–3,000 yuan/month
• Professional phase: 5,000–20,000 yuan/month

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Route 5: AI training / paid knowledge

Core logic: Teach others the AI skills you've learned and charge tuition.

Best for: Strong learners who are willing to share and can express themselves well.

Monetization methods:

• Record AI tutorial courses
• Host live AI sharing sessions
• Provide one-on-one AI consulting
• Run an AI community (membership fees)
• Deliver enterprise AI training

Content directions:

• AI writing tutorials
• AI drawing tutorials
• AI video production tutorials
• AI office productivity tutorials
• Tutorials on specific tools

Sales channels:

• Knowledge Planet
• Xiaobaotong
• Paid articles on WeChat Official Accounts
• Douyin/Kuaishou live streaming
• Selling courses on Taobao

Specific steps:

Step 1: Choose one AI tool and master it
↓
Step 2: Summarize usage methods and lessons learned from pitfalls
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Step 3: Record courses / write tutorials
↓
Step 4: Set a price (99–999 yuan)
↓
Step 5: Promote and enroll students

Pricing reference:

• Single course: 99–299 yuan
• Course bundle: 399–999 yuan
• Community annual fee: 299–999 yuan
• One-on-one consulting: 200–1,000 yuan/hour

Estimated income:

• Just starting: 500–2,000 yuan/month
• Reputation phase: 3,000–10,000 yuan/month
• Influence phase: 10,000–50,000 yuan/month

3. Selection Advice

How to choose?

My advice:

Beginner tip: start with Route 2

• Low barrier, high demand
• Can be quickly validated
• Build a reputation and raise prices
• Gain experience at the same time

After advancing, run multiple routes in parallel:

• Route 2 earns money
• Route 3 builds passive income
• Route 1 expands influence

4. Important notes

❌ Don't do this

• Overthink without acting (just start first)
• Expect to get rich overnight (it takes time)
• Try to do everything (focus on one first)
• Don't learn new technologies (AI moves fast)
• Ignore quality (reputation matters)

✅ The right way

• Start with one direction
• Learn and optimize while doing
• Keep going deep
• Keep learning
• Build a personal brand

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Key takeaways

1. 5 routes: content creation, skill services, digital products, e-commerce selling, paid knowledge
2. Recommended for beginners: start with skill services—low barrier, quick results
3. Core logic: use AI to lower the barrier and improve efficiency
4. Income timeline: see results in 1–3 months, stable in 6–12 months
5. Most important: action + persistence + learning

In the AI era, there are more moneymaking opportunities than ever before.

The key isn't whether you know how—it's whether you do it.

Start right now!