The Rise of AI Side Hustles: Earning Opportunities in the Age of Automation

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sent waves of panic across industries most vulnerable to software-based replacement. The fear that AI was coming for jobs became a common narrative. While this might be true for some, for side hustlers across America, emerging technology is also creating money-making opportunities. Certain side gigs can put $1,000 or more in their pockets, and the best part is that these opportunities do not require the expertise or hard work of writing program code or building large language models from the ground up.

One of the most accessible AI side hustles is becoming an AI Prompt Writer. This gig involves crafting prompts—specific instructions to guide an AI model to generate relevant, accurate outputs, including images, code, and text. Celebrity billionaire Mark Cuban recently mentioned that if he were young today, he’d launch an AI prompt writer side hustle because of the gig’s low barriers to entry—no degree required—and potential for six-figure earnings. According to ZipRecruiter, the national average pay for AI prompt writers is $24 an hour. With dedication, one can reach $1,000 in just 42 hours.

Another lucrative opportunity is working as an AI Prompt Engineer. While the terms “prompt writer” and “prompt engineer” are often used interchangeably, there are key differences in the job description—and in what that job pays. AI engineers have a more technical role. They create prompts that focus on optimization and take factors like computational cost and accuracy into account. The average AI prompt engineer earns $54 an hour, or $111,552 per year. This means that reaching $1,000 can take as little as 19 hours.

For those who enjoy teaching, becoming an AI Tutor might be the perfect side hustle. AI tutors don’t teach skills to students aspiring to work in the field of artificial intelligence—they teach AI models to learn. According to a Medium profile of the gig, you don’t have to be a tech whiz to make money as an AI tutor—just “decent English writing and research skills” that allow you to feed datasets to AI software, helping it to improve and grow. Currently, Elon Musk’s xAI company is hiring tutors for remote positions that pay $35 to $65 an hour. Depending on the pay rate, one can reach $1,000 in 16.5 to 29 hours.

Lastly, there is the role of an AI Content Writer. AI content writers review AI-generated content to provide preference data for training initiatives. Companies like Amazon are currently recruiting for this position. According to ZipRecruiter, the average AI content writer earns $40 an hour. If you decide to take this gig full-time, that’s an $84,151 annual salary. Reaching $1,000 would take approximately 25 hours.

In conclusion, while AI might be replacing some jobs, it is also creating new opportunities for those willing to adapt and learn. These AI side hustles offer flexible, lucrative ways to earn money without needing advanced technical skills. Whether you choose to become an AI prompt writer, engineer, tutor, or content writer, the potential for significant earnings is within reach.

Cited: https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/side-gigs/lazy-ai-side-hustles-that-make-1000-dollars/