Turning AI into an Asset: My Journey to Passive Income
Last week I wrote about AI for productivity, which sparked a new wave of curiosity.
My own personal use of AI has shifted since I first began experimenting with the technology, primarily with tools like ChatGPT - from asking random test questions to making AI an integral part of my daily workflow.
As I continued to use AI, I started to wonder: Could it go beyond just boosting efficiency? Could AI actively generate income?
This week, I’m kicking off a journey to explore whether AI can truly create passive income streams and how far I can push the technology to work for me.
From Productivity to Profit: Can AI Generate Passive Income?
I am committed to understanding whether AI in its current form has the potential to provide a source of passive income. Over time I will look to see how this can become easier, or potentially more challenging, as the technology evolves.
From a list of potential areas to generate passive income from AI, I selected the below three because they balance automation with real monetisation potential:
- YouTube Channels: Income is derived from monetisation, linked to engagement and viewership on your channel and videos. AI can assist with scripting, narration, and idea generation. Tools like ChatGPT for scripting and ElevenLabs for voiceovers make content creation easier. However, video editing and visual storytelling still require a human touch.
- Books: With the help of AI, it is possible to outline, write, and format books for publication. To keep costs low, e-books through self-publishing channels can be a viable option. AI-assisted writing tools like Claude and ChatGPT can help outline, draft, and refine content. Platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allow for easy self-publishing, turning books into long-term assets.
- Newsletters: Utilise AI to generate articles and monetise through ads, affiliate links, or subscriptions. AI can automate research, summarisation, and drafting, making it possible to scale content creation. Monetisation comes from ads, sponsorships, and premium subscriptions via platforms like Substack.
Early Lessons: What’s Working and What’s Not
To start, I’m testing how AI can create passive income through a faceless YouTube channel.
Initially, I thought AI could handle the entire video creation process - from ideation to execution. But I quickly realised AI tools struggle with generating high-quality, fully automated videos. The biggest challenge was that every attempt to make a clip with AI all had a major flaw, which left me more frustrated than motivated.
Instead of abandoning the project, I shifted my approach. AI became my assistant rather than the creator. I now use AI for scripting and narration, but I manually source video clips and handle the final edits. This balance allows for automation while maintaining quality.
The Long-Term Vision: Where This AI Experiment Could Lead
This is just the beginning. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be testing different AI tools and strategies to improve automation and monetisation. I’ll continue to focus primarily on the development of a faceless YouTube channel, with future exploration around books or newsletters.
Stay tuned as I continue pushing AI’s limits - and if you’re on a similar journey, I’d love to hear about your experiences.
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