Why Your AI Art Isn't Selling (and never will)

Brad Colbow
19 Jun 202308:18

TLDRThe video discusses the misconceptions around making money with AI, highlighting the story of a Sci-Fi author who earned a modest income by writing 97 books with chat GPT. It emphasizes the importance of building a brand rather than just producing content. The narrative contrasts the quick saturation of the market with the long-term success of established brands like Nintendo, urging creators to focus on providing value and meaningful experiences to build a lasting brand.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 The potential of AI in content creation is vast, as demonstrated by a Sci-Fi author's use of chat GPT to write 97 books.
  • 💰 The allure of making money with minimal effort through AI is enticing, but it's important to consider the realistic earning potential.
  • ⏳ Success with AI in any field requires significant time investment, not just a few hours per project.
  • 📉 The easy money-making schemes often promoted by AI are unrealistic and usually lead to saturated markets.
  • 🎨 The true value of AI in creative fields lies in its ability to enhance and support human creativity, not replace it.
  • 🛍️ Platforms like Amazon's Merch by Amazon initially offered lucrative opportunities, but the market quickly became oversaturated.
  • 🌐 The lack of barriers to entry in online marketplaces often leads to a race to the bottom in terms of quality and originality.
  • 🏢 Building a strong brand is essential for long-term success, as it creates a unique identity and customer loyalty.
  • 🎮 Brands like Nintendo thrive due to a history of positive experiences and consistent quality.
  • 🖌️ Artists and creators should focus on their personal story and connection with their audience, rather than just the product.
  • 📈 Long-term growth and success are built on consistent effort, quality, and genuine engagement with one's audience.

Q & A

  • What is the main message the speaker is trying to convey about using AI to make money?

    -The main message is that trying to make money solely by using AI, without building a strong brand or providing valuable content, is not a realistic or sustainable goal. The market becomes saturated quickly, leading to low earnings and a lack of meaningful impact.

  • How much money did the Sci-Fi author make per hour by writing 97 books using chat GPT?

    -The author made approximately 2.94 cents per hour, given that they spent six to eight hours per book and earned nearly two thousand dollars in total.

  • What was the new service introduced by Amazon that the speaker discussed at the conference?

    -The new service introduced by Amazon was 'Merch by Amazon', a print-on-demand service that allowed entrepreneurs and small business owners to sell custom t-shirts without inventory or printing costs.

  • What happened to the market for print-on-demand t-shirts on Amazon as more people gained access to the service?

    -As more people gained access to the service, the market became saturated with a flood of t-shirts, many of which infringed on copyrights or used spam tactics. This led to a decrease in earnings for individuals and a de-prioritization of print-on-demand content by Amazon.

  • What is the speaker's stance on building a brand versus coasting off other people's brands?

    -The speaker strongly advocates for building one's own brand rather than coasting off others'. They believe that creating a unique and valuable brand leads to sustainable success and a more meaningful connection with customers.

  • How did the speaker's experience at the conference change their career perspective?

    -The experience led the speaker to realize the importance of building their own brand rather than relying on other people's brands for success. This became a turning point in their career, focusing on creating original and valuable content.

  • What was the speaker's initial approach to building their brand in their niche?

    -The speaker started by creating one review at a time, gradually improving with each video, and sharing honest experiences with products. This slow and steady approach helped them build a trustworthy brand over time.

  • How does the speaker compare the impact of a strong brand like Nintendo to the output of AI-generated content?

    -The speaker argues that a strong brand like Nintendo has significant power over consumers due to positive experiences and expectations associated with it. In contrast, AI-generated content without a brand behind it may not resonate as strongly with consumers.

  • What is the speaker's prediction for the future of AI-generated content?

    -The speaker predicts that the amount of AI-generated content will skyrocket, but much of it will be low-quality or 'junk', due to the ease of creation and saturation of the market.

  • How does the speaker suggest one can build a successful brand?

    -The speaker suggests that a successful brand is built on the cumulative experiences people have with the creator, including the content, work, art, and products they offer. It involves consistently delivering value and fostering a connection with the audience.

  • What is the role of Squarespace in the context of this video?

    -Squarespace is presented as an all-in-one platform that can help individuals and businesses build a professional website, create an online store, and sell products or services, offering tools for seamless customer checkout and business growth through analytics.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 The Illusion of AI Wealth: A Critical Perspective

This paragraph discusses the misconception that AI, like Chat GPT, can be a shortcut to easy money. It highlights the story of a Sci-Fi author who has written 97 books using AI and earned nearly two thousand dollars, but the reality is that this income is not substantial when considering the time investment. The paragraph emphasizes that the allure of AI for quick gains is misleading, as genuine success comes from building a strong, unique brand rather than relying on AI to produce generic content. It also touches on the historical example of a conference about t-shirt design and the pitfalls of a saturated market with low barriers to entry, where success is not sustainable without genuine value addition.

05:01

🎨 Building a Brand Beyond AI: The Power of Authenticity

The second paragraph focuses on the importance of building a personal brand rather than just producing content with AI. It argues that the value of a brand is in the experiences and connections it creates with its audience. The speaker shares personal insights from their career, emphasizing that slow, steady growth and authenticity are the foundations of a lasting brand. The paragraph also discusses the impact of technology on creativity and commerce, using the example of print-on-demand services and how they initially offered opportunities for entrepreneurs but eventually led to market saturation and devaluation of products. The message is clear: true success comes from creating content and products that resonate with people and from establishing a brand that stands for something meaningful.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Squarespace

Squarespace is an all-in-one platform for building websites and growing businesses online. In the video, it is mentioned as the sponsor, highlighting its utility for creating a brand and selling products or services. The platform's features include seamless customer checkout, powerful payment tools, and analytics for business growth, which are all relevant to the video's discussion on leveraging technology for business success.

💡AI (Artificial Intelligence)

AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans. In the context of the video, AI is used to illustrate the potential of technology in content creation, such as writing books or creating art. However, the video also cautions against relying solely on AI for business success, emphasizing the importance of building a personal brand and creating meaningful experiences.

💡Branding

Branding is the process of creating a unique name and image for a product or service in the consumer's mind, mainly through advertising campaigns with a consistent message. In the video, the concept of branding is crucial, as it argues that rather than just producing content or products, individuals and businesses should focus on building a strong brand that resonates with consumers and stands out in a saturated market.

💡Merchandising

Merchandising refers to the business of buying and selling goods, often associated with the sale of branded or licensed items. In the video, the story of 'merch by Amazon' serves as an example of how the ease of access to a merchandising platform can lead to market saturation and devaluation of products. It underscores the importance of differentiation and brand value in a competitive market.

💡Saturation

Market saturation occurs when a market is flooded with too many products or services, leading to a decrease in demand and profitability. In the video, saturation is discussed in the context of online platforms like Amazon's merchandising service and the content creation space with AI, where the ease of entry leads to an oversupply and devaluation of goods and content.

💡Content Creation

Content creation refers to the process of producing various forms of content, such as written, visual, or audio material, typically for online distribution. The video addresses content creation in the context of using AI to generate books, art, and other media, questioning the value and authenticity of such content in comparison to that which is created by individuals with a clear brand and vision.

💡Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the process of designing, launching, and running a new business, often involving innovation, risk-taking, and strategic management. In the video, the speaker shares his experience speaking at a conference for entrepreneurs and small business owners, emphasizing the importance of building a brand and creating value rather than simply chasing trends or relying on technology for quick success.

💡Print on Demand

Print on demand is a business model and technology where products, such as t-shirts, are printed only when an order is received, eliminating the need for inventory and reducing costs. In the video, this concept is used to discuss the early days of Amazon's merchandising service and how it initially allowed entrepreneurs to profit without overhead but eventually led to market saturation and decreased profits.

💡Copyright

Copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution, usually for a limited time. In the video, copyright is mentioned in the context of creators gaming the system on Amazon's merchandising platform by producing t-shirts with designs that closely resemble copyrighted material without explicit permission.

💡Value

Value, in a business context, refers to the worth or utility of a product or service, often determined by its quality, uniqueness, and the benefits it provides to consumers. The video emphasizes the importance of creating value through meaningful experiences and building a strong brand, rather than just producing a large quantity of content or products.

💡Personal Brand

A personal brand is the unique identity and reputation that an individual creates for themselves, often through their work, public image, and online presence. In the video, the speaker shares his realization that building a personal brand, rather than coasting on others' brands or producing generic content, is the key to standing out and achieving long-term success.

Highlights

The video is sponsored by Squarespace, an all-in-one platform for building your brand and growing your business online.

A Sci-Fi author has written 97 books using chat GPT and earned nearly two thousand dollars.

The author spent six to eight hours per book, resulting in an effective hourly rate of 2.94 cents.

The presenter warns that making a lot of money using AI is not a realistic goal.

The story of a conference on t-shirt design and the launch of Amazon's print-on-demand service, 'Merch by Amazon'.

Entrepreneurs made tens of thousands of dollars a month with little work due to the new service.

As Amazon opened up the service to the public, the market became saturated and profits declined.

The presenter's key takeaway was the importance of building your own brand rather than coasting on others'.

Using AI to produce content without a brand is worthless in today's market.

The prediction that the amount of content made using AI will skyrocket and most of it will be of poor quality.

The story of an individual who made successful t-shirts by hiring real designers and securing licensing deals.

The importance of creating a positive and recognizable brand for long-term success.

The example of Nintendo's brand power due to consistent positive experiences.

The presenter's personal journey of building a brand through honest product reviews and gradual improvement.

The value of an artist's story and personal connection with fans in selling their art.

AI, print on demand, and smartphones are compared to the revolutionary printing press in terms of their impact on content creation.

The sponsored message about Squarespace's capabilities for building websites and selling products online.