Making Money with AI: Best Methods for 2026

Hello, friends! In an era of rapid technological advancement, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more than just a buzzword, but a real tool for generating income. By 2026, neural networks will permeate all spheres of life, from business to creativity. This article, titled Making Money with AI: Best Methods for 2026, will help you understand how to use AI to make money, discuss popular approaches, example tools, and provide practical advice for beginners. We’ll explore why it’s profitable and analyze 14 proven methods.

How to Make Money with Neural Networks in 2026: Top 14 Best Ways to Start From Scratch

What are neural networks: a quick guide

Neural networks  are complex algorithms that mimic the working principles of the human brain. They analyze vast amounts of data and solve problems such as image analysis, language translation, and idea generation. AI simplifies routine processes in marketing, design, analytics, and much more.

Why is it worth making money on AI?

• Ease of access : Many platforms, such as ChatGPT or DALL-E , are intuitive and do not require programming skills.
• Reduced Time Costs : Automation allows you to quickly complete tasks that previously took hours.
• A variety of niches : From creative to analytics, it’s suitable for specialists of various profiles.
• Minimal investment : Free versions of the tools allow you to get started without large investments.

Methods for making money using AI

I’ve compiled 14 ideas for monetizing your neural network skills. Each method includes a detailed description , advantages, disadvantages, required skills, and recommendations with service examples. They’re not ranked by difficulty—choose based on your interests. For your convenience, I’ve spent a lot of time fleshing out each section, adding steps to get started, potential income, real-world examples, and scaling tips.ChatGPT allows you to generate high-quality texts to earn money by creating content, from articles to marketing materials, while speeding up the process and reducing costs.

1. Content generation

• The gist : Create articles, social media posts, scripts, or books using AI, then offer them for marketing or blogging. This includes not only basic generation but also integration with client data, customization to match brand tone, and SEO optimization to increase engagement.
• Pros : Constant demand from companies, the chance for long-term contracts and a personal brand; automation allows for large-scale content production, ideal for agencies.
• Cons : Editing is required to ensure uniqueness; competition on marketplaces is high; AI sometimes generates template text that requires creative refinement.
• Skills : Copywriting basics, working with text AI, knowledge of platforms; audience analysis and A/B content testing skills are a plus.
• Recommendations : Start with a niche analysis – choose a topic (e.g., technology or health ), generate 5-10 sample texts, refine them, and post them on freelance platforms. Potential income: from $500 per month for beginners to $5,000+ for experts with a portfolio. Scale by creating your own blog and monetizing through Adsense (there are nuances for the Russian Federation, please PM me for more details). Examples: ChatGPT for drafts, Jasper for marketing texts, Copy.ai , Rytr , QuillBot for paraphrasing, Sudowrite for creative stories, Frase for SEO content, HyperWrite for personalization.

Remini enhances photos and videos, helping you earn money by editing media files, where you can offer retouching and restoration services to clients.

2. Editing media files

• The gist : Enhance photos and videos – remove noise, add effects, restore old footage for photographers or content creators. In-depth : This can include automated color correction, removing objects from the background, or even generating new elements based on descriptions.
• Pros : Fast processing of large volumes, popular for retouching and restoration; e-commerce clients save time on post-production.
• Cons : Requires skills for complex edits; clients may criticize AI results for lacking “soul”; limitations in processing high-quality RAW files.
• Skills : Working with editors, AI for media; knowledge of composition, lighting, and tools like masks.
• Recommendations : Steps: Install a free tool, practice on your own photos, and create a before/after portfolio. Look for jobs on Etsy or directly from bloggers. Income: $300-$2,000 per month, depending on volume. Scale: Create a subscription service for processing. Examples: Runway ML for video effects, Remini for quality enhancement, Topaz AI for noise reduction, Adobe Sensei for smart editing, Descript for audio in video, Lumen5 for slideshows, HitPaw for watermark removal.

Canva Magic simplifies presentation and visual design, perfect for making money creating slideshows or designing products for online stores.

3. Slideshow design

• The gist : Create professional presentations for companies, schools, or events, including infographics, animations, and data. More details : AI can generate text-based layouts, suggest color schemes, and even integrate Excel data for dynamic charts.
• Pros : Design automation, ready-made templates for sale; suitable for corporate clients where time is money.
• Cons : Without personalization, it may lack originality; competition from designers; AI doesn’t always take brand guidelines into account.
• Skills : Design fundamentals, AI tools, storytelling and data skills.
• Recommendations : Start with a presentation description in AI, refine it, and test it with an audience. Sell it on marketplaces. Income: $400-$3,000 per month. Scale: Develop presentation creation courses. Examples: Beautiful.ai for auto-design, Tome for narratives, Canva Magic for quick templates, Pitch for startups, Prezi AI for non-linear slides, Visme for infographics, SlidesAI for Google integration, Powtoon for animated slides.

Midjourney generates unique images, opening up ways to earn money by creating visuals for brands, stocks, or custom projects using AI.

4. Creating visuals

• Essentials : Generate graphics, illustrations, or concepts for brands and projects, including logos, posters, or 3D models. Advanced : Use prompts for stylization (e.g., “Picasso style”) and iterative generation for perfect results.
• Pros : Speed ​​of production, available through stock or custom orders; allows you to create unique content without artistic skills.
• Cons : Needs some work to ensure exclusivity; copyright issues with AI content; restrictions on commercial use on some services.
• Skills : Basic design, image generators; knowledge of composition and trends (e.g. minimalism).
• Recommendations : Steps: Learn prompt engineering, generate a series of images, upload to Shutterstock. Income: $200-$4000 from sales. Scale: Create an NFT collection. Examples: Midjourney for art, DALL-E 3 for detailing, Stable Diffusion for custom models, Playground AI for experimentation, Artbreeder for mixing styles, NightCafe for community.

Descript edits video and audio with AI, helping you make money from video content production or YouTube channel management through automated editing.

5. Managing video channels

• The gist : Use AI for ideas, scripts, covers, and content editing on YouTube, including trend analysis and title optimization. More details : AI can predict video virality based on viewer data.
• Pros : Simplifies creation, manages customer channels; monetization through partnerships.
• Cons : Requires a promotion strategy, algorithms change, platform dependent.
• Skills : Channel management, video AI; YouTube SEO and metrics analysis.
• Recommendations : Start with a niche channel (e.g., tech reviews ), use AI for weekly content. Revenue: $500-$5,000 from advertising. Scale: Influencer agency. Examples: Descript for editing, Lumen5 for text-based videos, TubeBuddy with AI for optimization.

ManyChat helps you build chatbots for businesses, allowing you to earn money by developing automated assistants for customer support and marketing.

6. Development of automated assistants

• The gist : Build customer support chatbots, integrating them into websites or messaging apps, with features like FAQs, ordering, or analytics. In-depth : Add machine learning to personalize responses based on user history.
• Pros : Increased business efficiency, easy integration; recurring revenue from service.
• Cons : Complex scenarios require development, knowledge of the API, and risk of response errors.
• Skills : Programming, business logic, AI API; NLP basics.
• Recommendations : Steps: Create a simple Telegram bot, test it, and offer it to businesses. Revenue: $1,000-$6,000 per project. Scale: SaaS platform. Examples: ChatGPT API for logic, Dialogflow for integrations, ManyChat for marketing.

PromptBase is a platform for trading prompts where you can earn money by selling ready-made AI queries optimized for text or art.

7. Prompt trading

• The gist : Create and sell ready-made AI queries for text, art, or data, including templates for specific tasks. More details : Optimize prompts for maximum accuracy by adding modifiers like “detailed” or “in style.”
• Pros : Minimal effort, income from expertise, flexible schedule; passive income from sales.
• Cons : Competition, need for updates; copying of prompts.
• Skills : Formulating queries, marketing, knowledge of AI.
• Recommendations : Collect 50 prompts, post them on platforms, and promote them in communities. Income: $200-$2,000 per month. Scale: Prompt engineering courses. Examples: PromptBase , PromptHero , FlowGPT .

PeerClick tracks and analyzes traffic, helping you earn money through traffic arbitrage by optimizing advertising campaigns and affiliate programs.

8. Traffic arbitrage

• The gist : Analyze your audience and create AI-powered ads for affiliate programs, including A/B testing and predictive analytics. In-depth : AI helps segment traffic by demographics, interests, and behavior, automating creative creation (banners, texts), optimizing bids for maximum ROI, and predicting conversions based on historical data.
• Pros : Campaign automation, low startup costs with minimal budget, real-time ROI optimization; suitable for those looking to scale their revenue without creating their own product.
• Cons : Financial risks of losing money on tests; knowledge of traffic and platforms is essential; account bans are possible for rule violations; and there’s also dependence on external factors such as changes in advertising algorithms.
• Skills : Advertising ( PropellerAds , Clickadu ), trackers ( Voluum , RedTrack ); data analysis skills, understanding of affiliate marketing and basic script programming.
• Recommendations : Steps: Choose a niche (e.g., gambling or e-commerce ), set up a tracker, create 5 test campaigns with AI-powered creative generation, monitor metrics, and scale successful ones. Potential income: from $1,000 per month for beginners (after covering expenses) to $10,000+ for experienced affiliate marketers with large budgets. Real-world example: Traffic arbitrage for dating offers through AI-optimized social media ads. Scale by building a team or using automated monitoring bots. Examples: Binom for advanced tracking, PeerClick for A/B testing, ChatGPT for ad copy generation, Canva AI for visuals.

Surfer SEO analyzes and optimizes content for search engines, helping you earn money through SEO services with automated keywords and text.

9. Search engine optimization

• The gist : Analyze keywords and improve texts to improve website rankings, including content plans and audits. In more detail : AI predicts keyword trends, suggests LSI terms, analyzes competitors, and generates recommendations for page structure, such as headings, meta tags, and internal linking.
• Pros : Automation of routine tasks, increased organic traffic, and popularity among website owners and agencies. Long-term optimization results in passive income.
• Cons : Search engine algorithms evolve (e.g., Google updates), learning curve for beginners; risk of penalties for over-optimization or black-hat tactics.
• Skills : SEO basics, AI analysis, data interpretation; skills in working with analytics (Google Analytics) and content marketing.
• Recommendations : Steps: Audit a client’s website, generate an AI report, optimize 10 pages, and track SERP rankings. Potential income: from $800 per month for freelance assignments to $4,000+ for agencies with retainer contracts. Real-world example: Optimizing a fitness blog with a 200% traffic increase in 3 months. Scale by creating a SaaS tool or SEO courses. Examples: Surfer SEO for content optimization, SEMrush for keyword research, Ahrefs for backlinks, Moz for audits, WriterZen for idea generation, Frase for research.

Lumen5 converts text into video, perfect for making money producing video content for social media or advertising with minimal effort.

10. Assembling digital courses

• The gist : Generate materials, tests, and videos for online learning, including interactive elements. In-depth : AI creates quizzes based on content, adapts lessons to student levels, generates video scripts, and even certificates, integrating with LMS platforms.
• Pros : Low entry level without expert knowledge (AI helps with content), recurring income from subscriptions, high demand for self-training in niches such as skills or hobbies.
• Cons : Competition on platforms like Udemy, the need for marketing to attract students, and updating courses to reflect new trends.
• Skills : Course platforms, AI for content; teaching, video production, and email marketing skills.
• Recommendations : Steps: Choose a niche (e.g., programming for beginners ), use AI for the outline and materials, create a course in a week, and publish it on the platform. Potential income: from $500 per month in sales to $5,000+ with thousands of students. Real-world example: A course on AI prompts sold 1,000 times at $50 each. Scale through affiliate programs or a series of courses. Examples: Thinkific for hosting, Teachable for interactive, Kajabi for marketing, Udemy for the mass market, CourseLab for design, Canva for visuals.

Lumen5 converts text into video, perfect for making money producing video content for social media or advertising with minimal effort.

11. Video content production

• The gist : Transform text into video, add effects for advertising or social media, including voiceovers and subtitles. More details : AI generates animations, selects music to suit your mood, edits clips according to a script, and even creates deepfake elements for personalization (with caution).
• Pros : Speed ​​of production (video in minutes), application in digital marketing, potential for high income from viral content.
• Cons : Requires creativity for uniqueness, basic hardware (computer with GPU), competition on social media; legal issues with AI generation.
• Skills : Video editing, AI tools, understanding of platform algorithms (YouTube, TikTok); storytelling and audio mixing skills.
• Recommendations : Steps: Write a script, generate a video with AI, add effects, and upload it to social media for testing. Potential income: from $600 per month for freelancing to $3,000+ from sponsorships. Real-world example: Creating a promo video for a brand that garnered 100,000 views. Scale it up using a studio or automated pipeline. Examples: Runway for ML effects, Pictory for text-in-video, Lumen5 for slideshows, Synthesia for avatars, Kaiber for animations, Descript for editing.

Adobe Express simplifies the creation of visuals and descriptions, helping you earn money by designing products for marketplaces or presentations.

12. Product design for online stores

• The gist : Generate descriptions, images, and keywords for product cards, optimizing for conversions. In-depth : AI analyzes competitor reviews to improve descriptions, creates photo variations (e.g., from different angles), and integrates SEO keywords for improved visibility in marketplace searches.
• Pros : Increase sales with attractive cards, suitable for freelancing or running your own shop; quick automation for large catalogs.
• Cons : Manual adjustments for accuracy, reliance on AI generation quality; competition on platforms like Amazon.
• Skills : E-commerce platforms, AI for text/visuals, SEO for products; copywriting and A/B testing skills.
• Recommendations : Steps: Choose a product, generate 5 card variations, optimize, and test on a real store. Potential income: from $400 per month for services to $2,500+ from your own dropshipping. Real-world example: Optimizing product cards for clothing increased conversion by 30%. Scale through integration with Shopify apps. Examples: Canva for design, Adobe Express for quick visuals, Copy.ai for descriptions, Jasper for marketing texts, ChatGPT for keywords, Fotor for photo editing.

DeepL delivers accurate translations, allowing you to earn money by translating texts, websites, or documents with AI and final editing.

13. Translation services

• The gist : Translate documents, websites, or articles with AI and final editing, including localization. In more detail : AI takes into account context, idioms, and cultural nuances for naturalness, processes large volumes (books, contracts), and integrates with website CMS.
• Pros : Speed ​​and low cost compared to human translators, scalability for international business; demand in globalization.
• Cons : Loss of subtle nuances in complex texts (legal, poetic), variable accuracy for rare languages; need for native speakers for verification.
• Skills : Knowledge of 2+ languages, text editing, AI translation; localization and formatting skills (PDF, HTML).
• Recommendations : Steps: Take the text, translate it with AI, edit it, and offer a trial translation to the client. Potential income: from $300 per month for small orders to $2,000+ for corporate contracts. Real-world example: Website localization for export, covering 5 languages. Scale through an agency or API integrations. Examples: DeepL for accurate translations, Google Translate for basic translations, ChatGPT for contextual translations, Microsoft Translator for integrations, iTranslate for mobile, Lokalise for software.

X-GPTWriter automates the mass generation of unique content, opening up opportunities for earning money from website content creation, SEO optimization, and PBN network creation.

14. Content Automation with XGptWriter

• The gist : X-GPTWriter is a specialized program for mass generation of unique content based on the ChatGPT neural network and all other relevant neural networks. It’s designed for creating articles, social media posts, product cards, reviews, news, and rewriting texts based on keywords or prompts. In-depth : Unlike the web version of ChatGPT, the software works in batch mode, allowing you to generate thousands of texts per day on a single PC, automatically selecting the structure (headings, paragraphs, lists, tables), metadata (title, description), images from stocks, search results, or generated YouTube videos, FAQ sections, and comments. The program integrates LSI keywords to improve relevance, corrects errors, reduces spam (keyword fatigue), and supports custom modes for advanced users, allowing you to set complex prompts for any type of content, including copyrights based on top search results. It is the perfect tool for website content creation, PBN creation, SEO optimization and marketing automation, with a focus on multilingual content (up to 60 languages) without the need for foreign language skills.
• Pros : Scalability – generate up to 100,000 unique texts per day on a single computer, save on copywriters (500 articles for the price of one manual one), high-quality content with automatic SEO adaptation and visual integration; convenience for beginners thanks to ready-made templates and for experts – through custom prompts; regular updates, including new features like scheduled publishing; support for export to CMS formats (WordPressXML, CSV), which simplifies import; positive reviews about the increase in site traffic after using; low generation cost through cheap accounts (from 15 rubles per account). Full integration with services ChatRU, AI Tunnel, etc. Integration with text.ru, ContentWatch, Etxt and others (via API – a simple key) – each article is checked automatically. Support for local aggregators (LM Studio, Ollama).
• Cons : Dependence on the OpenAI API (requires purchasing accounts, risk of blocking during overload), although local aggregators (LM Studio, Ollama) are fully supported offline, meaning no internet connection is required; initial setup requires time to understand the interface and prompts; no free full version (only a demo with pre-installed keys).
• Skills : Basic understanding of SEO and keywords, working with prompts in ChatGPT, API setup; CMS integration skills (WordPress), semantic analysis (LSI, clusters), knowledge of e-commerce for generating product cards and social media marketing.
• Recommendations : Steps: Install the program from x-parser.ru, purchase OpenAI accounts or simply generate an API key on the ChatRU website and paste it into the program, customize templates for your niche (e.g., blog articles or product cards ), import a list of keywords from Excel, run the generation, and export to a CMS for automatic publishing. Potential income: from $1,000 per month for freelancers (website content services) to $10,000+ for PBN owners or agencies, with monetization through increased traffic and sales. Real-world example: One user generated 5,000 articles for a fitness blog, increasing traffic by 200% and earning money from advertising; another created a PBN for link building, saving on copywriters and improving the client’s SEO rankings. Scale through a private support channel for sharing experiences, integration with parsers (X-Parser for URL scraping), and the creation of a custom content generation service. Examples: X-GPTWriter as a primary tool, combined with X-Parser for competitor scraping, ChatGPT API for basic generation, WordPress plugins (AllImport) for importing, and numerous YouTube tutorials demonstrating how to generate from keywords to a full article in minutes.
• Bonus : When I purchased the program, I used the developer’s promo code A8E1E63BA9CA49EC , which gives a 40% discount on the software’s price. I’m not sure if it will work for you; maybe he gave it to me personally, but check before purchasing, as the discount is quite good, especially if you buy the perpetual license.

Tips for getting started

• Decide on a niche ( content , visuals , automation) and delve into one.
• Test free tools.
• Keep up with new products, experiment, and promote your services.
• AI Training : Combine theory with practice. Courses on Coursera , Udemy , and YouTube . Join chats on Reddit and Discord .
• Stay updated: Read blogs from OpenAI and Google .
• Portfolio : Collect examples on Behance and GitHub . Add case studies.
• Small orders : Start with Fiverr , Upwork , Kwork . Collect feedback.
• Branding : Maintain profiles on LinkedIn and YouTube . Share success stories.

Result

In 2026, AI  is the gateway to new opportunities in work and creativity, especially with tools like XPT-Writer , which enable automated content generation on an industrial scale. Master these programs, choose a path—from basic text generation to building full-fledged PBNs—and get going. Those who adapt and integrate advanced software will succeed. Get started today and become an expert in a sought-after field