Can you imagine running your online business in an environment where content is created for you? I’m sure we’ve all dreamed of doing just that – passive income with no effort on our part at all! No more burnout or endless hours of writing. We could get rid of these expensive freelancers. With AI-driven content creation, this is no longer a futuristic dream; it’s happening right now. But is using AI to create content really all it’s cracked up to be? Or are there some nasty pitfalls lurking behind that “How can I help you today?” invitation?
Have you fallen into the AI trap without understanding what’s really happening? Are you playing trick or treat with your business?
There is no doubt that Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way digital entrepreneurs like you and me build and scale their businesses. From AI-generated blog posts and YouTube videos to social and SEO media automation, AI tools can help you create high-quality content faster, cheaper, and at scale.
But as with every great technological leap, there’s also a debate to be had. Some fear that AI will replace human creativity, flood the internet with low-quality content, or even be used unethically. I’m not one who falls into that camp, although I do see an increase in content that I can clearly determine has been written by AI.
And if I can see it, you can be sure that the search engines will spot it too!
Let’s be clear: AI is not “the devil.” Like any tool, it can be used wisely or irresponsibly. If approached with integrity, I believe AI can help online entrepreneurs like you and me create better content, serve audiences more effectively, and build businesses that are both profitable and ethical.
So let’s dive into how you can leverage AI to build a thriving online business, ethically and successfully without falling into the AI traps.
1. The AI content creation revolution
Do you remember 20 years ago when people had to lie about how they’d met their partners through a dating app – and now EVERYBODY is doing it?
AI-driven content creation is a little bit like that – it’s no longer a secret weapon that people keep hidden. In just a few short years, AI has become an essential tool for digital entrepreneurs. AI-powered platforms can now generate entire blog posts, edit videos, design graphics, and even create voiceovers or avatars for video content that would have taken hours of painstaking work just a few years ago.
Some of the biggest ways AI is reshaping content creation include:
- AI-powered blogging – Tools like Jasper and Copy.ai can write entire blog posts in minutes
- AI video creation – Platforms like Synthesia can generate AI avatars that present content professionally and are incredibly human-looking although there are tell-tale giveaway signs if you know what you’re looking for
- AI social media management – Tools like Ocoya and Lately AI automate social media posts.
- AI for SEO and traffic growth – AI-driven SEO tools like Surfer SEO among others, analyse content and optimise it for rankings
By automating content creation, online business owners can focus on scaling rather than getting stuck in the daily grind of writing, designing, or video editing. The problem comes when creators forget to personalise, check, edit or be discerning with the content that AI creates. That’s when we can be subject to misinformation, disinformation, repetitive or low-quality information that offers little to the consumer.
Just putting out MORE content does not mean that it is GOOD content! Creators still have to do the work, perhaps now more as an editor than the copywriter, but this is an essential step if you want to succeed. Skip this, and you are on a slippery slope to poor content and poor ranking!
2. Case studies: Who’s getting it right and making money with AI content?
Whilst many are still getting to grips with creating a detailed prompt for use with AI, many entrepreneurs are already making serious money by leveraging AI-driven content creation. Let’s look at a few success stories.
AI-powered YouTube channels
Artificial intelligence has enabled the creation of “faceless” YouTube channels, where content is generated with minimal human involvement. Creators use AI for scripting, voiceovers, and even video production. This can be a godsend for camera-shy creators who still have something valuable to say. However, many camera-happy people still use AI to help.
Earnings and examples
- Matt Par: A well-known content creator who uses AI tools to automate various aspects of his YouTube channels, reportedly earning between $20,000 to $35,000 per month
- AI Historian: This channel focuses on historical topics using AI-generated videos and has amassed nearly 100 million views, showing the scalability of AI-driven content
Monetisation insights
YouTube’s Revenue Per Mille (RPM), which represents earnings per 1,000 views, varies by content type and region and can range from $2 to $12. But if you’re averaging a million views, you can see the platform’s lucrative potential for AI-generated content as long as you can attract the audiences. Some of the AI content gaining traction is really simple too – such as tothose posing a simple question – chocolate brownies or pancakes?!
Challenges
While AI-generated content offers efficiency, creators must ensure originality and engagement to meet YouTube’s monetisation policies. Over-reliance on AI without human oversight can lead to poor or generic content, which audiences will see through and turn away from, potentially affecting viewer retention and earnings.
AI-generated blogs
Bloggers are increasingly integrating AI tools into their content creation processes, from ideation to drafting and optimisation. I used AI to help with the outline of this article but I have also read, edited, fact-checked and reread what I’m going to put my name to.
Let’s look at some of the facts here as reported on https://masterblogging.com/.
Adoption and usage
- As of 2025, 80% of bloggers reportedly use AI for various tasks, with 54% using it for content ideation and 41% for crafting headlines. However, only 6% rely on AI to produce entire first drafts, indicating that most bloggers still prefer a human touch in initial content creation.
Earnings and ROI
- 68% of bloggers who incorporate AI report a higher return on investment (ROI) due to improved productivity and content quality.
- A case study revealed that one blogger earned over $1,000 in a short period after integrating AI into their workflow, demonstrating the financial benefits of AI adoption.
Challenges
- 63% of bloggers have encountered inaccuracies and biases in AI-generated content, highlighting the need for meticulous editing and fact-checking.
- 52% of readers engage less with content they suspect is AI-generated, reinforcing the importance of maintaining authenticity and a unique voice. My rule of thumb is this – if your AI-generated content starts to sound like everyone else’s content and nothing like you, opt out and find your authentic voice!
These case studies illustrate that AI can offer substantial benefits when it comes to content creation. However, if you are not willing to put the work in and do the human oversight part, then you will be like a high school student submitting a plagiarised essay for their final grade! You will be found out, and you will be metaphorically thrown out by your audience!
3. The best AI tools for content automation
To get started with AI-driven content creation, here are some of the best tools available:
AI for blogging and article writing
- Jasper AI – Writes blog posts, social media captions, and even books – offers a 1-week free trial with prices starting from $39 per month (March 2025)
- Copy.ai – Creates marketing copy, ad creatives, and email campaigns
- Surfer SEO – Helps AI-written content rank on Google
- ChatGPT – One of the original AI tools that caught our attention
AI for video creation
- Synthesia – Uses AI avatars and voiceovers to create professional videos
- Pictory – Converts text into short, engaging videos
- InVideo – AI-powered video editor for social media and marketing
AI for graphic design and social media
- Midjourney – Creates AI-generated artwork for blog images and branding
- Canva AI – Generates social media designs automatically
- Lumen5 – Converts blog content into video format for easy repurposing
On a personal note, I have used ChatGPT, Synthesia, Midjourney, Canva and Lumen 5 and I enjoy using all of them. Most have free starter or trial programs, and you can upgrade them later once you see their value.
4. The ethics of AI content creation: AI is a tool, not a replacement
I’m really passionate about this aspect of AI, and blog about the dangers of using AI without discernment or editing. My take on AI in content generation is really about whether content creators would actually say the things that AI says, and whether they are using an authentic and original voice or just falling into the trap of generic AI content.
That said, there is also a lot of fear and debate about AI replacing human creativity but to my mind, this is a little overstated. The truth is, AI is just a tool—and like any tool, what you create with it depends on how you use it. You can give a hammer and chisel to a thousand people, but you won’t necessarily get a “David” or “Venus” from their efforts!
Creativity is still to be valued and prized because it lifts the generic and ordinary into the realms of excellence and extraordinary.
AI is not the enemy
Some people view AI as a threat, but of itself, AI is not inherently bad, nor inherently good. However, AI can:
- Help people who struggle with content creation produce better quality work
- Make information more accessible and easier to understand through summaries, reformatting and simplifying language
- Support businesses in reaching more people with valuable content
Be discerning and own your content
This again, is my big soapbox issue! While AI can generate content, every content creator must understand this one rule – YOU are responsible for what YOU publish. If you publish something on your blog, social media sites or websites, make sure you’re happy to stand by it – in court if necessary!
The rules are simple:
- ALWAYS review and EDIT AI-generated content before publishing
- FACT CHECK – AI is known to make mistakes
- Ensure it aligns with your values and brand
- Ask yourself: “Would I put my name to this?” If the answer is no, don’t post it!
Using AI to create content for the good of all
AI should enhance your creativity, not replace it. I use AI a lot, but not to replace who I am or what I want to say. Successful online entrepreneurs use AI to assist their work, not to churn out a large quantity of low-quality content that is easily recognisable as AI and the same regurgitated information.
I’m old enough to remember the start of the internet, when you could write a 500-word article, and get it submitted to, and published on many different sites because they were all competing for content – any content! But times have changed – drastically and we must not return to those days of drab, uninteresting drivel just to meet a content schedule!
However, clever content creators are combining AI efficiency with human authenticity, to produce content that is valuable, ethical, and reflects you as an individual. AND AI can help make it profitable.
5. The future of AI in online business
AI is only a baby in the digital landscape – but it’s growing up faster than its parents can feed it! What the future will bring is anyone’s guess. AI is evolving rapidly, and online entrepreneurs who embrace it now will have a massive advantage. YOU could be one of those riding the wave instead of splashing about in the wake!
Whilst I don’t have a crystal ball, possible future trends include:
- AI-driven virtual influencers dominating social media
- AI-powered podcasts and audio content creating new monetisation opportunities
- AI chatbots automating customer support and sales funnels (I’m not so keen on customer support using AI as I’d much rather speak to a human rather than an endless list of options on an answerphone… but that’s just me)
By leveraging AI, it is possible to build a scalable, automated online business without being overwhelmed by content creation.
Think of AI like driving a car using a SAT NAV. You can use it to guide you, but you need to keep your hands on the wheel or you’ll end up in the ditch!
Conclusion: Is AI your next business partner?
AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a game-changing opportunity for digital entrepreneurs who are savvy and willing to put in the work. Yes, the work may be different now, but there is still work to do.
Whether you want to create YouTube videos, run a blog, or automate social media, AI tools can help you build a profitable online business with less effort than ever before – not NO EFFORT!
Remember: AI is a tool, not a substitute for quality. Use it wisely, stay ethical, and only publish content you’re proud to put your name to. YOU are the one who’ll decide whether it’s an excellent trick or a terrible treat!
Now is the time to take action. Will you embrace AI and scale your business, or will you be left behind?
Let me know in the comments: Are you ready to start using AI for your online business? What experiences have you had – both successful and cautionary?
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Reading through this article really made me pause and reflect on the double-edged nature of AI in content creation. It’s refreshing how it doesn’t shy away from the challenges highlighting both the massive efficiency gains and the pitfalls of losing a genuine, personal touch. I loved how the piece compares using AI to having a reliable co-pilot: it can guide you and help streamline the process, but ultimately, you still need to keep your hands on the wheel. It left me thinking about the balance between leveraging cutting-edge tools and ensuring that every piece of content truly reflects your unique voice.
Hi Dan. Thanks so much for your comments and I’m very pleased that the article made you think again about the pros and cons of AI. I like the word ‘discerning’ when it comes to all things technology and social media. We have a human brain for a reason, and we have free will if we let ourselves use it properly and keep a healthy dose of scepticism and discernment towards anything, rather than just going with the accepted norm. That’s been shown to be completely barking up the wrong tree many times in the past! Have a great day. Gail
AI is definitely growing fast in the business world. I agree that it is not good or bad but is a reflection of the people using it. I reference Alice and Bob chat bots from Facebook back in 2017, that created their own short-hand language to talk to each other faster when they realized they could communicate beyond the normal Englich language. AI can easily be lost control of if we, the users, do not fully understand the power of the problems it can create.
Hi Christopher. Thanks for your comments on the article and I like your reference to the Alice and Bob chat bots because once we allow things to ‘learn’ for themselves, there’s no telling where they can go. I’m not scared by this because I have a very optimistic outlook generally, and wish that we would all stop teaching our children WHAT to think and started to teach them HOW to think for themselves instead! But that’s a whole other soap box of mine! 🙂 I think we do need to be wary however and learn as quickly as the AI does!
AI-generated content is definitely a game-changer, but I agree that it’s not a magic solution. I’ve been using AI for blogging, and while it saves time, I always make sure to edit and personalize the content to maintain authenticity. Search engines and readers can tell when something lacks a human touch! Have you noticed any difference in engagement between AI-assisted content and fully human-written posts?
Hi Herman. Thank you for taking the time to read my post and comment. I see that you feel the same as me about AI and I’m glad to hear that you are both using it to your advantage, and editing it to make it your own. I think there genuinely is a drop in engagement when people think a post is written by AI. I too feel the urge to click away when I see such ‘pristine’ writing, the same familiar phrases and words, and a lack of storytelling or human input.