Can I use AI to make money?

You can use AI to make money. The technology can help you create a variety of content that you can monetize. You can also make money developing online courses with the help of AI. As your experience with the technology grows, you could even develop a course to teach others how to make money with it.

How can I use AI for passive income?

There are a few ways to generate passive income with AI. You can use it to create evergreen content, like YouTube videos or a website with affiliate marketing links. These methods can generate passive income from ad revenue and product sales. You could also invest in AI stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on owning AI chatbot stocks. Some large companies focused on AI -- like Microsoft (NYSE: MSFT), an investor in OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) and Alphabet -- pay dividends to their investors. Likewise, some AI ETFs own dividend-paying AI stocks and distribute those dividends to investors.

How can I make money with OpenAI?

You can make money using OpenAI's technology, including its popular ChatGPT program. That technology can help you generate content, like blog posts or YouTube videos, that you can monetize.

How can I make money using ChatGPT?

There are many ways to make money with ChatGPT. You can use the AI-powered chatbot to help create different types of content you can monetize. For example, ChatGPT could help you generate written content, like blog posts or sales copy, and you could sell your copywriting services to clients.

Is it risky to rely on AI for income?

It's risky to rely on AI for income. The technology landscape is rapidly changing, so what works to generate income today might not work tomorrow. Further, AI empowers anyone to use it to make money, thereby increasing competition. Given these dynamics, it's vital that anyone relying on AI for income stay current with the technology and continue learning new ways to use it to make money.

What AI skills are most in demand?

Some of the most in-demand AI skills are decision sciences, large language model (LLM)/data architect, proficient use of ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, and AI skills related to customer and client support, sales, and manufacturing and production.

Can I sell my AI work?

Yes, you can sell your AI work. However, you need to ensure it doesn't violate any existing trademarks or copyrights and is permitted under the terms of service for the AI tool used to generate the work.

How to Use AI to Make Money in 2026

Is artificial intelligence (AI) a threat or an opportunity to create more wealth?

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Jul 15, 2026 at 2:23 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Claude can assist in content creation, boosting productivity for writers.
AI art creation tools enable you to create and monetize digital and physical art.
Using AI to produce video content enables you to generate passive income from ads and affiliate links.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming an indispensable tool. From OpenAI's ChatGPT to Anthropic's Claude to Alphabet's (GOOG -4.40%)(GOOGL -4.37%) Gemini AI, chatbots are quickly becoming part of our everyday workflow. Tech companies are investing trillions of dollars into developing new AI-powered tools and the infrastructure to support them. And while many of us worry that AI might eventually take our jobs, it's becoming a powerful tool to make money.

Here's a look at seven basic frameworks for making money with AI-powered tools.

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An infographic listing seven different ways to make money using artificial intelligence (AI). — Image source: The Motley Fool.

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3. Create YouTube videos

AI tools allow anyone to create YouTube videos to promote or sell a product or service. ChatGPT, NotebookLM, and Claude can generate video ideas and scripts.

Meanwhile, you can use programs like Synthesia to generate videos to upload to YouTube. Other AI video tools include Descript, InVideo AI, and Canva.

If you create evergreen videos (i.e., content that remains relevant), they can generate recurring passive income through ad revenue or affiliate links embedded in the video.

4. Make AI-generated digital visual products

You can also use AI to help generate many types of digital visual content, like digital ads for websites, business logos, and marketing materials. You can use it to edit photos and other graphics more easily as well.

Tools like AdCreative.ai let you create commercials and social content with AI that you can sell to businesses. Meanwhile, Canva has AI-powered tools that make creating and editing graphics, videos, and presentations easy. Adobe also offers AI tools for making digital visual products.

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Pitch decks are another type of digital visual content you can produce with the help of AI. They are a series of slides that help start-up companies tell their stories to investors and potential business partners. AI tools like Gamma, Beautiful.ai, and Slidebean can help creators produce pitch decks more quickly for clients, which they can find on freelance sites like Fiverr (FVRR +4.18%) or Upwork (UPWK +2.98%).

5. Build websites

AI tools can help you build websites. You can build websites for small-business clients or create them for yourself to produce income from affiliated marketing, ads, or subscription sales.

Website-building tools, like Wix.com (WIX -1.54%), can help anyone create a professional-looking website through templates or Wix Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI). You can quickly create websites for clients or build them to sell your products or promote affiliate marketing links. Other AI website builders include Hostinger, Shopify (SHOP +1.23%), Lovable, and Framer AI.

6. Generate audio AI content

AI can help create many types of audio content through text-to-speech functions. You can use AI prompts to write a script for an audiobook, then use a text-to-speech generator to convert it into audio. ElevenLabs and Murf.ai are among the top-rated AI voice generators.

AI tools can also help translate videos or written content into other languages. For example, Nova A.I. software allows you to translate and add subtitles to a video. You can provide video creators with translation services through freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr. You can use text-to-speech tools to translate written content into audio, or to convert written text into audio for the visually impaired. Meanwhile, Descript and Adobe Podcast are among the best AI-powered audio editing and production tools.

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7. Create online courses

You can use AI software to help create online courses you sell, including those teaching others how to use AI. Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT can help you brainstorm ideas and topics and develop course materials.

AI tools can help you create videos, generate scripts, and record voiceover lessons and other course materials using a text-to-speech tool. AI can also help you put together materials to market and sell your online courses (potentially on a website you designed with AI-powered tools). Several AI tools empower you to create online courses, including Coursebox, Cypher Learning, Gamma, Canva, and Synthesia.

Tips for making money with AI

Anyone can make money with AI, including you. The technology can help anyone create content such as blog posts, videos, and online courses to sell to companies or through online platforms to generate income. Here are some tips to help you get started making money with AI:

Get familiar with AI tools: Start using free AI tools to create content, learn the best prompts to develop high-quality content, and determine the best ways to monetize your AI-produced content or services.
Upgrade to the best AI tool for your purposes: If you find free AI tools limited, spend the money to upgrade to an AI tool with more features to help you create the content you want.
Be unique: Because anyone can use AI to create content, you must differentiate yourself from the competition to make money with AI. That could mean focusing on a specific niche, developing your own personal brand and voice, providing top-notch services to clients, and humanizing your content.
Don't stop learning: You'll need to stay up to date with the latest AI technology, which is constantly evolving.

Top AI Tools

Here are some of the best AI tools to help you make money with AI:

ChatGPT
Claude
Canva
RealAI
Google Gemini
Perplexity AI
Grok
Notion
Microsoft Copilot
Zapier
Meta AI
Gamma
Wix

Key challenges of making money with AI

Some of the common challenges individuals face when trying to earn money with AI are:

Potential copyright issues.
Constantly evolving technology.
The growing amount of AI tools can make it overwhelming to find the best one for your needs.
Lots of competition as more people use AI to make money.
Finding a market for your AI products and services.

Key ethical considerations when using AI to earn money

It's essential to consider the ethical implications of using AI to earn money. Some key ethical considerations include:

Avoiding bias: Ensure AI doesn't discriminate against specific individuals or groups.
Privacy: You must guard personal customer data to prevent misuse.
Transparency: Inform users and customers that you're using AI and how you're using it while protecting their data.
Don't misuse the technology: Don't use AI to create a deepfake, especially one that could harm a competitor.
Empower humans -- don't just displace them: AI-powered automation can make humans even more productive, enabling you to grow your business, not just cut costs by replacing humans with technology.

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FAQ

How to make money with AI: FAQ

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About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst specializing in the energy, industrials, and real estate sectors since 2012. He also covers dividend-paying stocks, pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

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@MatthewDiLallo

Matt DiLallo has positions in Adobe and Alphabet and has the following options: long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Adobe, Alphabet, Fiverr International, and Wix.com. The Motley Fool recommends Upwork and recommends the following options: long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

How to Use AI to Make Money in 2026

Is artificial intelligence (AI) a threat or an opportunity to create more wealth?