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

Summary

This video discusses the pitfalls of relying on AI for quick monetary gains, using the example of a Sci-Fi author who made minimal profit writing 97 books with AI. It contrasts this with the importance of building a brand, drawing parallels to the success of Nintendo and the decline of Amazon's print-on-demand service due to saturation. The speaker emphasizes that genuine brand building, not AI shortcuts, leads to lasting success and customer connection.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video discusses a Sci-Fi author who used AI to write 97 books and earned nearly $2000, but the actual hourly rate was quite low.
• 🤖 The allure of AI is presented as a siren song, with many online tutorials promising wealth through AI-generated content, which is often unrealistic.
• 💡 The speaker shares a personal story about a t-shirt design conference and the pitfalls of a low-barrier-to-entry business model like Amazon's Merch by Amazon.
• 💰 The initial success of Merch by Amazon led to market saturation, with many people trying to make money without investing in quality, leading to diminishing returns.
• 🚫 The speaker emphasizes the importance of not coasting on other people's brands and the need to build one's own brand for lasting success.
• 🛍️ The video mentions a man who successfully used Merch by Amazon by hiring real designers and securing licensing deals, showing that investment can lead to success.
• 🏆 The concept of 'brand' is explored as more than just a logo; it's the sum of all experiences people have had with the content, work, art, or products.
• 🎮 The power of the Nintendo brand is highlighted as an example of positive experiences building strong brand loyalty over time.
• 📈 The speaker predicts that the market for AI-generated content will become saturated and mostly filled with low-quality work, devaluing individual contributions.
• 🎨 For artists, building a brand involves sharing their process and story, which can lead to followers and sales beyond just the aesthetic appeal of their art.
• 📈 The importance of providing value and creating something people want is underscored, rather than relying solely on technology to produce work.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is the discussion of the unrealistic expectations people have about making money using AI, specifically in the context of writing books and creating art.

What is the author's perspective on using AI to write 97 books and make nearly two thousand dollars?

The author views this as an unrealistic goal and criticizes the low hourly rate of 2.94 cents, which is the result of the time spent on each book.

What is the example given about the print on demand service by Amazon?

The example discusses how the initial success of using Amazon's print on demand service led to market saturation, resulting in a decrease in income for those participating in the service.

What was the impact of market saturation on the print on demand service?

Market saturation led to a decrease in income for those using the service, as Amazon started de-prioritizing their content to keep search results relevant.

What did the author learn from the conference about designing t-shirts?

The author learned that building a personal brand is more important than coasting on other people's brands, and that it requires investment and effort to be successful.

What is the author's view on the future of content created using AI?

The author predicts that the amount of content created using AI will skyrocket and most of it will be of low quality, leading to a saturated and less valuable market.

What does the author suggest is the key to building a successful brand?

The author suggests that building a successful brand involves creating a positive cumulative experience for consumers, which includes the content, work, art, and products offered.

How does the author relate the success of the Mario movie to brand building?

The author relates the success of the Mario movie to the strong brand of Nintendo, which was built on a series of positive experiences, and not just the quality of the movie itself.

What is the author's opinion on the value of content created using AI without a strong brand?

The author believes that content created using AI without a strong brand is essentially worthless, as it lacks the connection and trust that a well-established brand provides.

What is the role of Squarespace in the video script?

Squarespace is the sponsor of the video and is presented as an all-in-one platform for building a website and selling products, emphasizing the importance of having a strong online presence for brand building.

What advice does the author give for those looking to make a living through their art or content creation?

The author advises to focus on building a personal brand and creating content that offers a unique and valuable experience, rather than trying to quickly profit from AI-generated content.