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Smart Hustle & AI: How to Make Money with AI in 2025

Article · March 2025

DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.28644317

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Smart Hustle & AI: How to Make Money with AI in 2025
By Ibrahim Denis Fofanah
Master's in Data Science | Creator of Smart Hustle & AI

Foundations of AI for Hustlers

Before we jump into strategies and tools, it’s important to understand what AI is and why it
matters in your hustle journey.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence by machines. With

advancements in natural language processing and machine learning, tools like ChatGPT can now
understand, respond, and even create content like a human — at scale and in seconds.

Generative AI vs. Traditional Automation

While automation follows fixed rules (like Excel formulas or workflow triggers), generative AI
can think in probabilities, patterns, and creativity. It can write stories, code software, generate
business ideas, and even design websites. That’s a game-changer for creators and side hustlers.

Why AI is Your Competitive Advantage in 2025

• It saves time (hours of writing, designing, planning done in minutes)

• It saves money (no need to hire writers, editors, or designers at the start)

• It increases speed-to-market (you can launch faster and iterate quickly)

• It unlocks scalability (you can serve more people with less effort)

Think of AI as your co-founder — always available, never tired, endlessly scalable. Artificial
Intelligence (AI) isn’t just for tech giants and coders anymore. In 2025, it’s for the hustler. The
student. The jobseeker. The everyday person who wants to level up. This book is your guide to
understanding how to turn free AI tools into income-generating machines.

Most people are using ChatGPT wrong. They ask basic questions and expect advanced results.
But here’s the truth: AI won’t make you money unless you use it like an entrepreneur.

Let’s change that.

Chapter 1: The Mindset Shift – From User to Creator

If you're using ChatGPT just to write essays or brainstorm ideas, you're missing out. The smart
ones are using it to:
• Start digital businesses
 • Automate boring tasks

• Create valuable content

• Build personal brands

Key Insight: AI isn’t the business. It’s the assistant to help you run one.
The Creator Economy & AI

We're witnessing a digital shift—creators are becoming the new entrepreneurs. Platforms like
YouTube, Substack, and TikTok are driven by content, and AI enables creators to produce
faster and smarter than ever before.

The question is no longer “Can AI help?” It's “How fast can I implement what AI gives me?”

Chapter 2: The Tools You Need (All Free or Freemium)

Here are 7 powerful AI tools that are free to use or have generous freemium plans:

1. ChatGPT – Content creation, idea generation, customer service chatbots.

2. Canva AI – Design visuals, social media content, pitch decks.

3. Pictory AI – Convert text into YouTube shorts and reels.

4. CapCut + AI Tools – Edit short-form content for virality.

5. Durable.co – Build a full business website in seconds.

6. HeyGen / Synthesia – Create faceless video presentations using AI avatars.

7. Harpa AI – Automate browsing, research, and data extraction.

Chapter 3: Real Ways to Make Money with AI in 2025

1. Freelancing with AI

• Offer AI-generated content on platforms like Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, and LinkedIn.

• Package services like blog writing, product descriptions, or social media posts.
How to Use Prompts:

"Act as a professional copywriter. Write a 500-word blog post for a skincare brand promoting a
new natural face serum. Use a persuasive, friendly tone."

You can modify the prompt for different niches or content types. Then edit and deliver the final
piece through your freelance platform.
2. Affiliate Marketing + AI

• Use ChatGPT to write scripts or blog posts that include affiliate links.

• Promote via email newsletters, Pinterest, or Medium.

How to Use Prompts:

"Act as an affiliate marketer. Write a blog post reviewing the top 3 AI video tools for beginners
in 2025. Include pros, cons, and a call-to-action at the end."

Use the content on Medium, Quora, or your own site. Plug in your affiliate links naturally into
the copy.

3. YouTube Automation
• Niche YouTube channels can be built using ChatGPT + Pictory by leveraging smart
prompt engineering. For example, to generate a script, start with a clear role and
objective:

"Act as a YouTube scriptwriter. Write a 90-second script for a faceless channel on 'Top 5 AI Tools
to Make Money Online in 2025'. Use a storytelling tone, include a hook, and make the content
engaging for beginners."

Once you have the script, paste it into Pictory, which will automatically turn your text into a
video. You can then choose stock footage, voiceover style, and background music. Export the
video, upload to YouTube, and use SEO-optimized titles and thumbnails.

Repeat this weekly, track analytics, and scale your content with a batch-creation workflow. AI
simplifies the video creation process and makes YouTube automation an accessible hustle for
beginners.
• Monetize with ads, brand partnerships, or affiliate links.
4. Digital Product Creation

• Create eBooks, guides, online courses, or Notion templates.

• Sell via Gumroad, Payhip, or Etsy.

How to Use Prompts:

"Act as an instructional designer. Create a detailed outline for a beginner course titled 'Make
Your First $100 with AI Tools'. Include module names, lesson breakdowns, and brief
descriptions."

Once the outline is ready, you can use ChatGPT again to expand each section into content for an
eBook or course script.
5. AI-Powered Consulting or Micro-Agencies
 • Use your AI skills to offer automation services to small businesses.

• Build client retainers with tools like Zapier, Make.com, and Harpa.

How to Use Prompts:

"Act as a workflow automation consultant. Create a simple automation plan for a real estate
agent who wants to collect leads from a website form and automatically follow up via email."

Once you get the plan, you can use Harpa or Zapier to implement it. Charge clients for setting up
these systems for them.

Chapter 4: Prompt Engineering – The Secret Skill of AI Power Users

Prompt engineering is not just a trick — it's a superpower. When you know how to talk to AI
effectively, it responds with clarity, depth, and usefulness. Here’s how to get the results you
want:

The Prompt Formula

[Role] + [Goal] + [Context] + [Output Format]

Let’s break it down:

• Role: Who is the AI supposed to act as? (e.g., expert, marketer, tutor)

• Goal: What is the task? (e.g., write, brainstorm, summarize)

• Context: What background or direction should the AI use?

• Format: How should the answer look? (e.g., bullet points, script, blog post)

Example Prompt Breakdown:

"Act as a business strategist. Help me brainstorm 5 digital product ideas that a college student
can create using ChatGPT. Include target audience, pricing idea, and format for each."
This structure gives you rich, usable answers — not vague fluff.

Pro Tips for Better Prompts:

1. Use “Act as…” to give the model a role.

2. Add specific instructions like tone, style, or word count.

3. If results are too generic, include examples in your prompt (this is called few-shot
prompting).
4. Tell it exactly how you want it to reply — bullet list, paragraphs, table, etc.
 5. Don’t be afraid to revise and retry with more detail.

By mastering this approach, you’ll stand out from 99% of AI users who still type: “Write a blog
post for me.”

This is where real results start.

Your results with AI are only as good as the prompts you give. To unlock real value, you need to:

Assign roles: “Act as a digital marketer…”

Give clear context: “You’re helping a fashion brand sell on Pinterest…”
Set format expectations: “Respond with a bullet list + 200-character hook.”

Prompt Templates:
Social Media Caption Generator:

You are a viral content strategist. Write 5 engaging social media captions for a tech product
launch. Keep them short, punchy, and curiosity-driven.

Video Script Assistant:

Act as a YouTube scriptwriter. Write a 90-second script on how to make passive income with AI
in 2025. Use a storytelling tone.

Chapter 5: Monetization Models That Scale

There’s a difference between making money once and building income streams that grow.

Digital Product Funnels – Free lead magnet → low-ticket offer → upsell.

Newsletter Monetization – Use beehiiv/Substack to build audience + monetize with
sponsors.
Course Launches – Use Gumroad or Teachable to create paid AI courses.

Use AI to build systems, not just do tasks.

Chapter 6: Your First 7 Days Gameplan

Day 1: Choose your niche + method.
Day 2: Study top creators in your space.
Day 3: Create your first piece of AI-powered content.
Day 4: Set up your delivery platform (Fiverr, Gumroad, YouTube).
Day 5: Launch + share value in relevant communities.
Day 6: Engage with audience and gather feedback.
Day 7: Double down on what’s working and remove distractions.
Chapter 7: Publishing, Positioning & Branding with AI

Want to publish content like this on platforms like ResearchGate, Medium, Substack, or
LinkedIn? Here’s how AI helps:

• ChatGPT + Grammarly + Quillbot → Perfect your language + formatting.

• Canva AI → Design clean covers, thumbnails, social previews.

• Midjourney/DALL·E → Create visuals to complement your work.

Position yourself as a thought leader by combining consistent publishing with AI-enhanced
branding.

Bonus Section: Prompt Playbook for Smart Hustlers

Here are pre-written prompt templates you can plug into ChatGPT to start executing today:

Freelancing

"Act as a marketing copywriter. Write a product description for a sustainable water bottle
targeting outdoor adventurers. Tone: energetic and persuasive."

YouTube Scripts

"Act as a viral content strategist. Write a short, high-retention script for a video titled: 'Top 3 AI
Tools You Need in 2025 to Make Money'. Include a hook and a call to action."

eBook Creation

"Act as an eBook writer. Create a full outline for an eBook titled 'Master ChatGPT for Side
Hustles'. Include chapters, bullet summaries, and content breakdown."

Service Business Setup

"You are an AI consultant helping small business owners. Create an automation plan for a beauty
salon to schedule clients via WhatsApp using Zapier and Google Sheets."

Course Creation

"Act as a course builder. Create a 4-module course outline for beginners on how to make money
using ChatGPT and Canva. Add lesson objectives and content samples."

Don’t just admire what AI can do—use it. You’re not behind. You’re early.

You already have what you need:

 • Free tools

• Daily strategies

• This guide

The next step? Execute. Share. Improve. Repeat.

Follow me at Smart Hustle & AI for daily blueprints, tools, and inspiration to help you
create income, not just ideas.

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