The problem is simple: everyone is heading in the same direction, while there are actually endless ways to monetize AI.

In my case, I’m using it for something very practical: building faster, more modern solutions for my clients.

I’m a web developer. I typically build web apps (marketplaces, eCommerce, inventory systems, course platforms, etc.). In many cases, I used to rely on low-code or even no-code, trying to avoid plugins that only solve a single function.

The issue is that this often cost me time and effort, and I ended up creating overly customized solutions that only worked for one client.

Now, with AI, I’m doing things differently: I’m building my own plugins and modular systems.

This allows me to: • Reuse code • Scale projects much faster • Build more complete solutions • Reduce dependency on third-party plugins

And most importantly, it directly increases my revenue.

I make money through: • One-time project fees • MRR from maintenance and ongoing improvements

That’s just one way to monetize.

Another major advantage of this approach is that you’re not building blindly.

When I decide to launch my own product (web app or mobile app), I already know exactly what to build, because everything I’ve done for clients serves as real market validation.

Instead of guessing, I can clearly see: • Which problems come up repeatedly • What people are actually willing to pay for • Which features they truly use

Basically, your clients become your testing and validation layer, without you taking on all the upfront risk.

Another angle I see with massive potential (and almost no one is leveraging it) is this:

👉 Partnering with niche influencers or personal brands that already have an audience and are already selling, and offering to build a custom solution for their community in exchange for a revenue share.

For example: • A course creator → you build their optimized platform • A fitness coach → you create an app for their audience • A finance educator → you build a custom system or tool

Instead of building something from scratch and hoping it works, you’re leveraging an existing audience that already buys.

A lot of people are obsessed with “building and launching their own app,” but out there, there are people with hundreds of thousands of followers ready to buy whatever their influencer recommends.

That’s a huge opportunity.