5 Simple Ways to Make Money with AI as a Complete Beginner

Nowadays, even most “make money with AI” advice on the internet sounds like a scam. Either it’s a super complex tech thing… or it’s someone selling you their overpriced course. But what if there were legit ways to earn using AI in 2025 that actually works. Ways where AI does most of the work, and you keep most of the money?

Well, you’re in luck! In this post, I’ll share five beginner-friendly ways to earn real income with AI. The best part is, you don’t need to be a tech wizard, a video editor, or an expert at coding. All you need is some time, a little creativity, and the willingness to start.

These methods work because the growth potential in these fields are basically unlimited and new trends pops out day-by-day. We’re talking about thumbnail design, faceless YouTube channels, blog creation, and even building automation tools for businesses.

So, get ready to stop overthinking and start earning. Let’s see all these five ways one-by-one.

1. Design High-Converting YouTube Thumbnails with AI

If you’ve ever clicked a YouTube video because the thumbnail caught your eye, then congrats! That image did it’s job. Now, imagine getting paid to make similar thumbnails, but you won’t be creating them yourself. AI will do it for you.

What You’ll Do?

You’ll design eye-catching thumbnails using tools like Canva you have, Photoshopand Midjourney. To grow on YouTube, thumbnails are the most important thing and every YouTuber wants to get more eye balls on their content. That’s why a good thumbnail is very-very important.

Your thumbnail design services can be perfect for content creators who want high-quality visuals, but don’t have the money to hire a full-time designer.

Tools You’ll Need:

• Canva you have (Free)
• Midjourney or From the · e (for image generation)
• ChatGPT (for analyzing viral trends)
• One of 10, ViewStats – to spy on top-performing thumbnails

How Much Can You Earn?

• Low end: $50/day for 5 thumbnails at $10 each
• High end: $200–$400/day designing for top YouTubers at $50 per thumbnail

How to Find Clients?

To find clients, you can use the “Audit-to-Deal” process:

1. Pick a niche (fitness, finance, gaming—anything you enjoy)
2. Scrape leads: Find YouTubers on LinkedIn or YouTube with basic or average thumbnail design
3. Audit their channel: Record a short Loom video giving suggestions to improve their thumbnail designs
4. Offer a sample thumbnail for free
5. If they like your work, you’re good to go.

2. Start an AI Blog Generation Side Hustle

You don’t have to be a good writer to start blogging in 2025. With AI, you can turn podcast episodes, video content, or ideas into high-quality blog posts that ranks on Google and even inside AI chatbots like ChatGPT.

What You’ll Do?

You’ll help businesses create top-notch blog content that brings traffic, builds trust, and even generates affiliate sales.

Tools You’ll Need:

• ChatGPT or Claude (for writing)
• Surfer SEO or Rank.ai (to optimize content for SEO)
• SEMRush / Ubersuggest (to find low competition blog topics)

How Much Can You Earn?

• $10–$20 per blog post for SEO farms (5 blogs/day = $50–$100/day)
• $200–$500/day if you get good at ranking or work with businesses directly

For the tip:

Start by building a portfolio of sample posts. Find out viral blogs, rewrite them in your style, and share the examples with your potential clients.

3. Launch a Faceless YouTube Channel with AI

Yes, you can start a YouTube channel without ever showing your face or using your voice and still make thousands per month. Many people are already doing this and making big amount of money.

What You’ll Do?

You’ll create YouTube videos using AI-written scripts, stock video (B-roll), AI voices, and avatars.

Tools to Use:

• ChatGPT (for scriptwriting)
• Pictory, RunwayMLor CapCut (for editing)
• ElevenLabs or Synthesia (for AI voiceover and avatar creation)

How Much Can You Earn?

• If you can get 10,000 Views per day at a $5 RPM, then you can make $50/day just from ads. But if you can get more views and include sponsorships and promote affiliate products, you can make a lot more.

Tips to Grow Your Channel:

• Focus on profitable niches (like tech, finance, health)
• Use tools like vidiq to analyze your competition and find trending topics
• Improve with every video—1% better each time

4. Build AI-Powered Websites for Businesses

Web design agencies are already being disrupted by AI. And this can be a great opportunity for you to make some serious money without putting in much effort.

What You’ll Do?

You’ll use no-code website builders and AI to create full websites—text copy, images, layout, everything in just a short period of time and without needing to code.

Tools You’ll Need:

• Framer, Reloomor Ai shop (for no-code website design)
• Midjourney (for creating visuals)
• ChatGPT (for writing web copy)
• Sustainable AI (optional full site builder)

How Much Can You Earn?

• $100/day building one site
• $500–$1000/day with multiple clients + upsells (like SEO, hosting, automation)

There are 22 million small businesses in North America. Most of them don’t have a website yet, but they need one.

5. Start an AI Automation Agency

This one’s a bit more advanced, but the earning potential is massive compared to the first four.

What You’ll Do?

You’ll help businesses save time and money by automating their boring tasks like lead capture, onboarding, emails, data entry, and more.

Tools You’ll Need:

• Zapier, Makeor Pabbly (for automation)
• ChatGPT (for workflows + email copy)
• CRM tools like HubSpot or Airtable

How Much Can You Earn?

• $200/day with 1–2 small clients
• $1000–$2500/day solving bigger workflow problems

Even if you’re just starting, offer free help in exchange for case studies. Fix a few real problems, and you’ll have businesses lining up to pay for your services.

Conclusion

The truth is, these five ideas aren’t get-rich-quick schemes, but they can make you real money. It may take some time, but they will pay.

Pick the one that excites you the most, spend one weekend learning the basics, and just launch something. The worst that can happen? You learn a new skill. The best? You build a AI-powered business that makes thousands of dollars each month. So, either way you win.

Now, let me know which side hustle are you going to try first? The comments section is always open for discussions.