Can You Really Make Money with ChatGPT? The Truth Behind the Hype

If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or YouTube lately, you might have stumbled upon the enticing promise: “Make thousands per month with ChatGPT — no experience needed.” From AI-generated coloring books to fully automated blogs, the allure of passive income seems to be everywhere. But can you actually make money with ChatGPT? I decided to dive into this question, and what I discovered might surprise you.

Hustle or Hype?

The internet is flooded with stories of individuals launching six-figure Etsy shops, selling prompt packs, or ghostwriting books using ChatGPT. While these stories often contain a kernel of truth, they frequently omit crucial details such as pre-existing audiences, advertising expenditures, or the countless hours of trial and error that go into building a successful venture.

Having tried my hand at this myself, I can attest to the mixed results. I used the prompt: “Based on what you know about me, what are some side gigs that I could do to make extra money?” As a power user, ChatGPT remembers a lot about me, but if you’re new, you may need to provide your skills or upload your resume (minus any personal information).

Your prompt might look something like this:
“Based on my resume or skills, what are some side gigs that I could do to make extra money?”
From there, I received a tailored list of ideas that aligned with my skills and the limited free time I could realistically commit to a side project. This included outlining and editing self-published children’s books, launching a Substack newsletter, and creating digital products. While I’ve made some money from these gigs, it has required far more time, skill, and strategy than TikTok makes it seem.

The Reality (and How AI Can Help)

Here’s the truth: ChatGPT is a tool that works only as hard as the person using it. Unfortunately, it’s not a magic ATM. However, AI can assist you in various ways, such as brainstorming faster, outlining your ideas, writing code for your app, and even designing marketing copy. But you still need to:

Choose the Right Niche: Identify a market that interests you and has demand.
Understand Your Audience: Know who you’re targeting and what they want.
Market Your Work: Promote your offerings through various channels.
Revise Content to Sound Human: AI can help, but your unique voice is essential.
Learn Platform Algorithms: Understand how different platforms work to maximize your reach.

For instance, my Substack didn’t explode overnight. I post almost every evening, test headlines, engage with readers, and promote it across other channels. So far, ChatGPT helps me show up faster, not get rich faster.

What People Don’t Tell You

The AI side hustle world has its struggles, and here’s what often gets glossed over:

The Competition is Fierce: Everyone else has access to the same tools you do.
Low-Effort Content is Everywhere: It’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand out.
Most Platforms are Cracking Down: Amazon, for example, flags AI-generated books. While outlining is fine, you need to put in the work to create quality content.
You Need Trust: People pay for voice, authority, and connection, not just words.

You can’t skip the human element. The more you show up authentically in your content, the better AI works for you. Your personality, perspective, and passion should shine through.

The Upside: You Can Build Something Real

Here’s the good news: you can use ChatGPT to start something meaningful. My newsletter is growing slowly but steadily, and my books generate passive income. Each project teaches me something new about AI, writing, and what people actually want.

Some real opportunities I’ve personally seen succeed include:

Teaching People How to Use ChatGPT: Offering courses or guides.
Writing Niche Content with Personality: Crafting newsletters, parenting blogs, or industry tips.
Selling Customized Digital Products: Avoiding generic AI outputs.
Using ChatGPT to Save Time: Allowing you to focus on growing your actual business.

The Takeaway

Yes, you can make money with ChatGPT — but it’s not easy, and it’s not instant. If you’re looking to quit your job next week, this probably isn’t the path for you. However, if you’re willing to show up consistently, treat it like a real business, and learn as you go, AI can help you build something sustainable.

Just don’t expect ChatGPT to do all the work — because the most valuable thing you can offer still isn’t artificial. It’s you.