💰 How to monetize AI videos (step-by-step)

Hey!

Dude, I'm still grinning about this! 😄

This is wild, and I had to share it with you.

You know how I'm always talking about AI changing everything? Well, yesterday I got a reality check on just how fast this stuff is moving.

I woke up to a notification that made me do a literal double-take.

Grok (yeah, Elon's thing) had analysed Twitter and put together a list of "20 stellar mutuals bringing positivity via AI, tech, and good vibes."

And, I ended up at #15 as an "automation helper."

Like... WHAT?! 🤯

I literally had to screenshot it and send it to my mom because nobody would believe me otherwise.

While most people are still debating whether AI is "real" or worrying about robots taking over, it's quietly reshaping how everything works.

Including how we get discovered, how we create, and how we build audiences.

Which brings me to today's topic: AI videos on YouTube.

Because if an AI can spot helpful creators in a sea of millions of tweets, imagine what it can do when you're intentionally using it to create content...

You know that feeling when you discover a shortcut everyone else missed?

Like when you realize you can microwave leftover pizza instead of using the oven. Or when you find the back entrance to the concert venue while everyone else waits in the two-hour line.

That's exactly what's happening on YouTube right now. Instead of saving 20 minutes, people are building entire businesses.

While most creators are still fumbling with cameras, learning editing software, and practising their "YouTuber voice" in the mirror, a quiet revolution is happening in plain sight.

What's Really Happening Behind the Scenes

The executives at CJ ENM, the Korean powerhouse behind Parasite, Snowpiercer, and Old Boy, just did something that should make every content creator pay attention.

They created an entire 30-episode animated series in 5 months using just 6 people and their "Cinematic AI" system.

For context: A typical 5-minute 3D animation usually takes 3-4 months. They just broke the math.

The show where a cat accidentally becoming a dad to a baby chick.

It might feel like something a kid would pitch after binge-watching YouTube, right?

That's exactly the point. Cat Biggie premieres on YouTube because that's where the AI content revolution is happening.

While traditional studios are still figuring out AI, YouTube has become the perfect testing ground. No gatekeepers. Anyone can upload. And AI creators are absolutely dominating:

• Four of the top 10 YouTube channels in May featured AI in every single video

• In June alone, the top four AI channels pulled 23M+ subscribers and 800M views

• One channel, Masters of Prophecy, went from hundreds of subscribers in February to 30M+ in June using pure AI content

Last week's third-most-watched YouTube video?

A bizarre "baby accidentally becomes aeroplane pilot" story that hit 130M views. Pure AI-generated content.

And creators are making serious money from this.

Bloo, that fully AI gaming YouTuber with 2.5M subscribers, has generated over seven figures in revenue.

Another creator, GoldenHand, uploads 80 AI videos daily across multiple channels and has built his platform for others to do the same.

The economics are simple: AI videos cost cents to produce and maintain consistent quality without needing Netflix-level budgets or Hollywood crews.

Someone sits down with ChatGPT and says, "Give me 10 video ideas about space mysteries." Boom. Ten concepts are ready to go.

They pick one. "Write me a 3-minute script about black holes that sounds like a friend explaining it." The script appears in seconds.

They paste that script into InVideo AI or Pictory. The AI generates visuals, adds background music, and creates smooth transitions. Professional-looking video in minutes.

For the voiceover? ElevenLabs creates a human-sounding narrator who never gets tired, never stumbles over words, never needs a break.

Upload to YouTube. Add an AI-generated thumbnail. Optimize the title with AI suggestions. Hit publish.

The whole process takes less time than your morning coffee routine.

The Numbers That Will Shock You

InVideo AI alone has over 25 million users creating millions of videos monthly. That's not a typo. Millions.

72% of YouTube creators now use AI-generated thumbnails. Nearly half of live-streamers have AI tools in their workflow.

Some creators are running 30-50 channels simultaneously. They're not superhuman - they're just using AI to do what used to take teams of people.

Your 60-Minute Complete Setup Guide

Step 1: Generate Your Content (10 minutes)

• Open ChatGPT and ask: "Give me 10 viral video ideas about [your topic]"

• Pick the most interesting one

• Request: "Write a 3-minute script for this that sounds conversational and engaging"

• Save your script - this is your foundation

Step 2: Create Your Video (15 minutes)

• Sign up for InVideo AI or Pictory (both have free versions)

• Paste your script into the AI video generator

• Select your preferred voice style (professional, casual, energetic)

• Choose a background music style

• Hit generate and let AI create your video

Step 3: Add Professional Voiceover (10 minutes)

• Copy your script to ElevenLabs (free tier available)

• Select a natural-sounding voice

• Generate high-quality narration

• Download and replace the AI video's audio if needed

Step 4: Optimize for YouTube (15 minutes)

• Create an eye-catching thumbnail using Canva's AI tools

• Write your title using this formula: [Number/Question] + [Benefit] + [Curiosity Gap]

• Add relevant tags and a compelling description

• Include timestamps for better engagement

Step 5: Upload and Monitor (10 minutes)

• Upload to YouTube with proper categorization

• Add captions (use AI transcription tools)

• Share in relevant communities and social media

• Track performance and iterate on successful formats

The Money-Making Reality Check

Let's be honest - you won't become Mr. Beast overnight. But here's what's actually possible:

• Month 1: Learn the system, create 10-15 videos, start building audience

• Month 2-3: Hit monetization requirements (1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours)

• Month 4+: Earn $100-500+ monthly from a single channel

Successful creators run multiple channels across different niches. Some manage 30-50 channels simultaneously because AI handles the heavy lifting.

The Tools That Actually Work

Free Tier Essentials:

• ChatGPT (script writing)

• InVideo AI or Pictory (video creation)

• ElevenLabs (voice generation)

• Canva (thumbnails)

• YouTube Studio (analytics)

Paid Upgrades Worth It:

• ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) - faster, better scripts

• InVideo Pro ($25/month) - unlimited videos, premium features

• ElevenLabs Starter ($5/month) - more voices, longer audio

Your Success Formula

The creators making real money follow this pattern:

1. Consistency beats perfection - Upload regularly, even if videos aren't perfect

2. Batch creation - Create 5-10 videos in one session, schedule releases

3. Niche focus - Pick 2-3 topics you can create endless content about

4. Engagement optimization - Respond to comments, create community posts

5. Scale systematically - Once one channel works, replicate the formula

Your Unfair Advantage

The beautiful thing about this moment? Most people still don't know it's possible.

They're stuck in the old way of thinking. "I need to be on camera." "I need expensive equipment." "I need to learn video editing."

Meanwhile, the early adopters are quietly building audiences and bank accounts.

The tools exist. The audience is hungry for content. YouTube's algorithm doesn't care if your video was made by AI - it cares if people watch it

What's Coming Next

This is just the beginning. Virtual influencers will become as common as human ones. Interactive AI content will let viewers have real conversations with AI personalities during live streams.

The tools are getting better, faster, and cheaper every month.

The question isn't whether AI will change YouTube. It already has.

The question is whether you'll be watching from the sidelines or building your own automated content empire.

The gold rush is happening right now. The pickaxe is free. The mine is wide open.

What are you waiting for?

P.S. The window is open, but it won't stay that way forever.

Before You Go

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Could you forward it to one friend? It takes 30 seconds to forward.

But it might just be the push they need to stop overthinking and start creating.

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