Listeners looking for the latest and greatest ways to make money have more options than ever, thanks to the explosion of remote work, the rise of digital entrepreneurship, and some impressive new developments powered by AI. In the past few days, reports from Whop.com and expert mentors on YouTube show that AI-related gigs are leading the top money-making trends for 2025. People are leveraging their existing skills—such as writing, design, coding, or consulting—but they're supercharging their offerings with AI. By using AI tools for content creation, programming, digital marketing, or data analysis, freelancers are able to multiply their productivity and command higher rates, sometimes earning $150 an hour according to international business consultants. One example that’s captured attention is the transformation of freelancers and small teams into AI consultants for small businesses—helping others adopt automation, manage AI workflows, and even create custom AI-generated marketing material.
Digital product creation is another hot avenue, with individual sellers on platforms like Etsy and Gumroad making anywhere from a few thousand dollars a month to six-figure incomes. Templates, printables, tutorials, online courses, and design assets require heavy lifting upfront, but once they're created, they can be sold endlessly without inventory or shipping headaches. Stories abound of creators launching niche digital courses, from Excel mastery to pet training, and waking up to consistent passive income notifications.
Affiliate marketing remains an accessible and popular method, especially for those with existing blogs, YouTube channels, or social media audiences. The latest twist is combining affiliate links with AI-generated content, enabling creators to scale up their output and income. Networks like Whop have seen affiliates generate eight figures in commission collectively, simply by recommending tools and products to their following.
Listeners who want to start with low risk should consider remote roles in customer service, digital marketing, healthcare administration, or virtual assistance—gig platforms and company job boards report a steady flow of such openings. Interestingly, positions like social media manager, community manager, and project coordinator now offer fully remote flexibility, with many companies offering competitive salaries and the possibility to work from anywhere. High-tech roles like AI product security, full-stack engineering, or freelance copywriting continue to offer strong six-figure earnings, according to job boards like Dynamite Jobs and Remote.co.
For those with a creative flair, print-on-demand businesses are thriving. Designers upload graphics for shirts, mugs, or posters without holding any inventory, and if a product finds its audience, the profits scale up quickly. Similarly, the revival of craft-based selling on Etsy continues, from needlecraft kits to creative party favors.
Some listeners may be inspired by stories of everyday people going big with specialized side hustles. Recent YouTube features highlight a single mom from Ghana turning her life around selling AI-generated educational resources, and a laid-off restaurant manager earning five figures monthly consulting for AI implementation in small restaurants.
Remote work’s ongoing shift is opening up international roles across industries, so enterprising workers can seek opportunities not just nationwide but across borders. Whether it’s a part-time training gig, a fully-remote marketing position, or a freelance contract with a U.S. tech company, the barrier to entry keeps lowering while the upside gets higher.
Whether you’re thinking of starting your own business, monetizing a skill from home, or simply looking to boost your income, the opportunities right now are unprecedented. Harnessing AI, launching digital products, tapping into affiliate systems, or...