Introduction
Hi everyone! Welcome to this YouTube channel. In this video, I want to discuss a post I recently shared on a Reddit community that went viral, receiving almost 70,000 views and numerous comments. It was a controversial topic that many people resonated with, and I believe it's important to share it here as well.
My name is Sirup. I've been building and selling AI solutions full-time in a corporate setting and also as a freelancer and through an AI automation agency. I've seen the ins and outs of AI development and sales, and I'm here to provide some real-world insights.
The Nonsense in the AI Space
Recently, we've entered a phase where people are building AI agents in five minutes and charging 2000 euros for them. This is clearly unsustainable and not the truth. I want to discuss why this post got so much attention and what's really happening in the industry.
The Struggles of Selling AI to Small Businesses
In my experience, selling AI automations to small businesses has been challenging. They often lack technical expertise, making it difficult to integrate complex tech stacks into their existing systems. While tools like NetN offer integrations with popular services, some businesses simply don't care.
Even when selling based on results, like promising more clients, small businesses are hesitant to trust and understand how to incorporate AI into their operations. We've tried adding a human-in-the-loop approach to give them more control, but it still doesn't yield the results others claim.
The Unrealistic Claims of 100K a Month
Statements like "100K a month AI automation agency" are not as realistic as they seem. In my opinion, most of these content creators are not making their money through AI automations. Instead, they're making it through YouTube, school communities, and other educational platforms.
Building a community takes time, but it's a more efficient way to generate income than servicing clients. Most influencers don't talk about the real-life challenges of AI development, such as contracts, data agreements, and compliance with regulations like GDPR and the EU AI Act.
The Challenges of AI Agents
AI agents are powerful but still unpredictable. As a developer or system designer, you need to build trust in these systems and ensure they perform reliably. You also need to empower humans to intervene when the AI goes wrong.
I've had clients who lost trust in AI image generators after experiencing issues. To minimize these events, you need to implement fallback systems and be transparent about the limitations of AI.
How I've Made Money with AI Solutions
Over the past year, I've made money selling AI solutions through consultations and implementations. I've focused on solving specific business problems, such as marketing automation and lead generation.
Automating customer support has not been a big sell, as many business owners prefer to hire virtual assistants. However, automating content generation has been a useful application, saving me and my team time and increasing our reach.
The Difficulty of Selling AI Workflows
Building AI workflows is quick, but selling and marketing them is still a challenge. You need to validate the idea, identify the target market, and convince potential clients of the value of your solution.
I've had success selling an AI automation to a wedding venue, but finding clients was difficult. The implementation process also takes time, and there are legal and technical considerations to address.
The Role of Upwork
Upwork is not a great place to find high-quality AI automation work. It attracts clients with limited budgets who are more concerned with getting the job done quickly than with quality. As a developer, you'll face stiff competition from cheaper alternatives.
While some people have made money on Upwork, they're usually doing more specialized work that requires years of experience. If you're looking to build and sell AI solutions, Upwork is not the way to go.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is money to be made in AI automation, but it's not as easy as some people claim. Building a product is the easy part; selling and marketing it is the real challenge.
If you're struggling to find clients or feeling discouraged by the hype, don't give up. Keep validating your ideas, building your skills, and networking with potential clients. It takes time, but you can succeed.
Thank you for listening to my thoughts. I hope you found this video valuable. Please let me know your opinions in the comments, and I'll see you in the next video.
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