The Truth Behind AI Money-Making Claims: Can you really make $1K a Day or More?
- AZ PUBLISHERS
- Jul 17, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 2
I asked DeepSeek.ai a question. The Truth Behind AI Money-Making Claims: Can you really make $1K a Day or More? Here is what I got.
The claims of making $1K a day or more using AI tools are often exaggerated, misleading, or outright scams. Let’s break down the reality behind these claims with some key statistics and insights.
How Common Are These Claims?
YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are flooded with "AI money-making" videos. Many of these use clickbait tactics to drive affiliate sales or course purchases.
A BuzzFeed analysis (2023) found that over 60% of "Make Money with AI" videos led to paid products (courses, eBooks, tool subscriptions) rather than genuine passive income.
How Many People Actually Make $4K+/Week with AI?
Less than 1% of people who try AI side hustles (freelancing, content creation, automation) hit $4K/month, let alone per week.
A 2024 Upwork report showed that only ~5% of AI freelancers (e.g., ChatGPT prompt engineers, AI video editors) earn over $50/hour. Most make between $15 and $30/hour.
Fiverr & Upwork data reveals that AI-based gigs (like AI-generated eBooks, logos, or voiceovers) are oversaturated. Many sellers earn under $500/month.
The Most Common AI Money-Making Scams
"Buy my AI course to get rich quick" → Often repackaged free info.
"Automated AI drop shipping" → Most stores fail due to competition.
"AI trading bots that guarantee profits" → Many are Ponzi schemes.
"AI-generated content = passive income" → Amazon/KDP bans low-quality AI books, and YouTube demonetizes AI spam.
Who’s Really Making Money?
The people making money are often those selling courses or tools, not using them.
Affiliate marketers promote AI software with claims like, "Use this AI tool to make $10K/month!"
Additionally, the top 0.1% of skilled freelancers (AI developers, automation experts) are the ones truly profiting.
The Reality Check
AI can help with productivity, but it’s not a magic money printer. Most "easy money" AI methods require:
Heavy upfront work (learning, testing, failing).
Existing skills (marketing, coding, sales).
Luck (saturation in most niches).
Conclusion: Should You Trust These Claims?
No. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Legit AI income comes from real skills and effort, not "one-click" schemes. Always research before buying a course or tool—many are just repackaged hype.
7 Red Flags of AI Money-Making Scams
"Guaranteed Income" Claims
Scam: "Make $4K/week with AI—guaranteed or your money back!"
Reality: No legit business guarantees income, especially with zero effort.
Vagueness About the "Secret Method"
Scam: "I can’t reveal the secret here—buy my course!"
Reality: If they won’t explain the basics upfront, it’s a sales funnel.
Fake "Proof" of Earnings
Scam: Blurry screenshots of PayPal deposits or stock photos of luxury cars.
Reality: Ask for verified testimonials (LinkedIn, real social profiles).
Pressure to "Act Now"
Scam: "Only 3 spots left at this price!"
Reality: Urgency equals manipulation. Real opportunities don’t disappear overnight.
Overemphasis on "Automation"
Scam: "Just set it and forget it!"
Reality: Even AI tools need maintenance, updates, and marketing.
No Refund Policy (Or a Shady One)
Scam: "No refunds after download" (common with cheap eBooks/courses).
Reality: Legit sellers offer at least a 7–14 day refund window.
They’re Selling the Shovel, Not Digging for Gold
Scam: The person pitching the method makes money only from selling courses, not from the method itself.
Reality: Check if they actually use the strategy (e.g., do they have a real AI business?).
How to Spot REAL AI Money-Making Opportunities
Not all AI income claims are scams. Some people are making money ethically. Here’s how to tell:
Transparent Case Studies
Example: "Here’s my AI-powered freelance business, and here’s my Upwork profile proving it."
Free Value First
Example: A YouTuber gives a detailed free tutorial on AI freelancing before offering a paid course.
Realistic Timeframes
Example: "It took me 6 months to hit $5K/month with AI client work, here’s how."
Focus on Skills Over Hacks
Example: "Learn prompt engineering and cold outreach to land clients" vs. "Click this button to print money."
Community Proof
Look for unpaid reviews (Reddit, Twitter, Discord) from real users—not just testimonials on their site.
How to Research Before Spending Money
Google "[Product Name] + Scam" (e.g., "AI Profits Course Scam").
Check Reddit (r/Scams, r/Entrepreneur, r/ArtificialIntelligence).
Search YouTube for honest reviews (avoid affiliates).
Ask for proof of the seller’s own success (e.g., LinkedIn, client lists).
Bottom Line
Scams prey on desperation. If you’re hoping for "easy money," you’re the target.
Real AI income requires skill (coding, marketing, sales) and effort. The only people getting rich quick are the ones selling the dream.
Common "AI Writing" Money-Making Claims to Watch For
Many LinkedIn/TikTok posts hype AI writing income with lines like:
"Writers are making $10K/month using AI tools!"
"I went from $0 to $6K/month just by using ChatGPT!"
"Companies are desperate for AI-assisted writers—no experience needed!"
Red Flags in AI Writing Income Claims
Overstated Earnings
Most freelance writers using AI earn $20–$50/hour (not $10K/month passively).
Top earners usually have existing portfolios, niche expertise, or clients. AI just speeds up their work.
"No Skills Needed" Claims
AI-generated content often gets rejected by clients (or platforms like Medium/KDP) for being generic.
Real AI-assisted writing requires editing, research, and human input.
Affiliate/Upsell Traps
Many posts are just promoting an AI tool/course (e.g., Jasper, KoalaWriter) with affiliate links.
Fake "Success Stories"
Testimonials like "I made $8K in a week!" are often fabricated or from people who already had audiences.
Reality Check: Can You Make Money with AI Writing?
Yes, but it’s not easy or passive. Here’s how some writers actually profit:
Freelance Platforms (Upwork/Fiverr): Editing AI drafts for clients ($20–$100/article).
Self-Publishing (KDP/Medium): Using AI for ideas and outlines, but heavily editing output.
SEO Agencies: Bulk AI content (low pay, ~$0.01–$0.05/word).
Cold Pitching Businesses: Offering "AI-optimized" blog posts (requires sales skills).
Earnings Stats:
Median freelance writer income (2024): $42,000/year (with or without AI).
Top 10% of AI-assisted writers: $80K+/year (but they treat it like a full-time job).
How to Vet This Specific LinkedIn Post
Check the Poster’s Profile
Are they making money from writing, or just selling a course/tool?
Do they have real client testimonials (not anonymous quotes)?
Look for Proof
If they claim, "writers are earning $X," ask: Where’s the evidence? (LinkedIn profiles? Case studies?)
Google "[Their Name] + Scam"
Reddit/forum threads often expose shady promoters.
Is There an Upsell?
If the post ends with "DM me for my secret method!" or a course link, it’s likely a pitch.
Fake "AI Tool" or "Investment" Opportunities from Thought Leaders:
Scammers clone or hack the profile of a real industry influencer.
Using a voice-cloning AI (like ElevenLabs), they send voice messages or even host live audio events (using a shallow deepfake) promoting a limited-time opportunity to invest in a new AI startup or buy a "master license" for a revolutionary AI tool.
The urgency and perceived authenticity of the cloned voice drive rapid victim compliance.
On YouTube: Manipulation at Scale
YouTube's vast audience and monetization systems are exploited through AI in these novel ways:
Synthetic Influencer "Pump-and-Dump" 2.0:
AI-generated host avatars deliver incredibly convincing financial advice on channels that look like Bloomberg or CNBC clones.
Using AI to clone the style of popular financial YouTubers, they promote a specific low-volume cryptocurrency or stock. AI-generated news tickers, charts, and "breaking news" banners add to the illusion.
Once the price is pumped by viewers buying in, the scammers (who bought early) dump their holdings, collapsing the asset's value.
Deepfake Tech Support & Giveaway Scams:
Scammers hijack high-profile streams (e.g., from Elon Musk, MrBeast, or popular tech reviewers) using deepfake technology to make it appear the streamer is live and promoting a crazy cryptocurrency giveaway or a free software download (which is malware).
The use of real-time, low-latency deepfake tech (though still imperfect) is a new and alarming trend in late 2025, making "live" content untrustworthy.
AI-Generated "Course" and "Software" Funnels:
Channels are entirely built with AI: the script, voice-over, and "demo" videos of software results (e.g., an AI that prints money, generates unlimited passive income, or hacks Google Ads).
The "proof" videos are fabricated using AI video generation or advanced editing tools. Viewers are funneled to a site to buy the non-existent course or software license.
Comment Section Hijacking with AI Bots:
Sophisticated bot networks, using language models, post context-aware comments under popular videos. For example, under a crypto video: "This method is good, but the [X] airdrop happening right now is life-changing. I used this guide: [malicious link]".
The comment sounds human, responds to the video's content, and upvotes/replies to other comments to appear legitimate.
Cross-Platform & Advanced Tactics (Late 2025-2026)
Multi-Platform Narrative Building: A scam originates on a deepfake YouTube channel, which directs users to a "Discord community" run by AI chatbots for "exclusive access." From there, victims are referred to "official partners" on LinkedIn for "career opportunities" related to the scam, creating a closed, believable ecosystem.
AI for Evasion: Scammers use AI to automatically generate slight variations of scam video scripts, descriptions, and profile copy to evade platform content moderation algorithms.
"Human-in-the-Loop" AI Scams: The initial contact and funnel are fully automated by AI (chatbots, personalized messages). Only at the final stage—where money needs to be moved or sensitive info taken—does a human scammer take over. This makes the scam massively scalable.
How to Protect Yourself:
Verify Through Secondary Channels: Got a fantastic offer from a LinkedIn recruiter? Call the company's official number from their website (not the link provided) to verify. See an incredible deal from a YouTuber? Check their official Twitter/X or website for announcements about scams.
Be Sceptical of Urgency & Secrecy: "This investment window closes in 2 hours," or "Don't tell anyone about this backdoor job offer," are massive red flags.
Inspect Digital Media Closely: Look for odd lip-syncing, unnatural blinking in videos, or a flat, emotionally inconsistent tone in voice messages. AI generation, while advanced, still has subtle tells.
Never Use Provided Links for Verification: Type the official company URL yourself. Do not click links in descriptions or messages to "verify" something.
Use Platform Features: On LinkedIn, turn on "See who's viewing your profile with your name." Often, scammers won't appear there. On YouTube, check the channel's history. A legitimate channel has years of content, not just one viral video.
The overarching theme is the dissolution of trust in digital media. The most powerful defense is a mindset of healthy, proactive skepticism. Always confirm through a separate, trusted source before engaging with any too-good-to-be-true opportunity presented online.
There are alot of new tools on the market. Before installing tools from new startups read our latest blog post on how to protect yourself from AI malware here.
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