"What I Learned Spending 30 Days Letting AI Run My Side Hustles (And the Surprising Results)"

Mastery Hub

06 May 2025 — 5 min read

Like many professionals with a full-time job, I’ve always looked for ways to grow a side hustle. From freelance writing to dropshipping, I’ve dabbled in different ventures over the years. But balancing these side projects with a 9-to-5 job often left me feeling stretched thin. That’s when I decided to experiment: what if I let artificial intelligence run my side hustles for 30 days?

With tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, Canva’s AI features, and automation platforms like Zapier and Make.com becoming more accessible, I wanted to see what would happen if I handed the reins over to AI. Could it save time? Would it make more money? Could it actually work without constant supervision?

After 30 days of testing, tweaking, and tracking results, I walked away with insights that surprised me — and might just change how you think about using AI in your own business. Here’s what I learned.

Choosing the Right Side Hustles for AI Automation

Not All Hustles Are Created Equal

Before diving in, I had to decide which side hustles would be the best candidates for automation. I chose three:

Print-on-Demand Store: Using platforms like Printful and Shopify, I sold T-shirts and mugs with original designs.
Content Creation & Affiliate Marketing: Running a niche blog and YouTube channel that monetized through affiliate links and ad revenue.
Freelance Services: Offering resume writing and LinkedIn profile optimization via Fiverr and Upwork.

I picked these because they rely heavily on content, marketing, and customer communication — all areas where AI can assist. I also ensured each hustle had a digital footprint that could be tracked for metrics like engagement, sales, and time spent.

Setting Up the AI Stack

To make this experiment work, I assembled a toolkit of AI platforms and automation tools:

ChatGPT and Jasper: For writing blog posts, product descriptions, emails, and even customer responses.
Canva’s AI Tools: For designing social media graphics and product images.
Zapier and Make.com: To automate workflows, like posting content across platforms or sending invoices.
SurferSEO and Grammarly: To optimize written content for search engines and polish grammar.

I spent the first two days setting up workflows, training the AI with prompts, and linking platforms. Once the systems were in place, I stepped back and watched the magic (sometimes chaos) unfold.

How AI Performed in Real-World Scenarios

1. Content Creation: Surprisingly Human

One of the biggest time-savers was using AI to generate blog posts, YouTube scripts, and social media captions. I provided AI with clear prompts like my target audience, tone, and desired length. The results? Surprisingly good.

For example, I tasked ChatGPT with writing a blog post for my niche site about "Top 5 Productivity Apps for Remote Workers." It generated a 1,200-word draft in under 10 minutes. After minor edits and SEO optimization using SurferSEO, I published it — and within two weeks, it ranked on the second page of Google.

My YouTube scripts, which used to take hours to write, were done in 15–20 minutes with Jasper. This allowed me to publish twice as many videos during the 30-day period, leading to a noticeable spike in views and affiliate clicks.

2. Customer Service: Efficient, but Needs Oversight

For my freelance gigs and Shopify store, I used AI to handle customer inquiries. I trained ChatGPT with a database of FAQs and used it to draft responses via email or Fiverr messages.

Most of the time, it worked well — polite, informative, and quick. However, when questions got too specific or emotional (like a frustrated customer asking for a refund), the responses lacked nuance. I realized that while AI can handle 80% of inquiries, the remaining 20% still need a human touch.

To manage this efficiently, I set up a rule: AI drafts the first reply, and I review it before sending. This cut my response time in half without sacrificing quality.

3. Design & Branding: Fast, But Not Flawless

Using Canva’s AI tools, I generated dozens of product mockups and Instagram posts. It was incredibly fast — I could create an entire week’s worth of branded content in under an hour. However, the quality wasn’t always consistent.

Some designs looked too generic or didn’t align with my brand’s tone. I learned to treat AI as a starting point, not the final product. Think of it like a sous-chef in the kitchen: great at prep work, but you’re still the head chef making final decisions.

The Numbers: Did AI Actually Make Me More Money?

Here’s a breakdown of the results after 30 days:

Print-on-Demand Store: 22% increase in sales, mostly from better marketing and more frequent product launches.
Content & Affiliate Marketing: 35% increase in blog traffic, 40% more YouTube views, and a 28% increase in affiliate revenue.
Freelance Services: Saved 10+ hours responding to clients and writing proposals, leading to 3 new clients I wouldn’t have had time to pursue otherwise.

In total, I made about $780 more than my average monthly income from these hustles — without working more hours. In fact, I spent about 30% less time overall.

That’s the real power of AI: not just making more money, but giving you back your time.

Lessons Learned: What Worked and What Didn’t

What Worked Well

Batching Tasks: Using AI to batch-create content (like 10 blog posts or 20 social media graphics at once) was a game-changer.
Clear Prompting: The better the prompt, the better the output. I learned to give AI specific instructions, tone, and structure.
Integrations: Automating tasks via Zapier — like auto-posting blogs or syncing leads to my CRM — saved hours of manual work.

What Didn’t Work

Over-Automation: I tried to automate customer service entirely, and it backfired. People still want human connection.
Blind Trust: AI can make factual errors or create content that feels off-brand. Always review before publishing.
One-Size-Fits-All: Some platforms worked better for certain hustles. For example, Jasper was great for storytelling, but not ideal for technical writing.

Practical Steps to Start Using AI in Your Side Hustle

If you’re looking to integrate AI into your own side hustle, here’s how to get started:

Identify Repetitive Tasks: Make a list of tasks you do weekly — writing, designing, emailing — and see which ones can be automated.
Choose the Right Tools: Start with free or low-cost AI tools. ChatGPT, Canva, Grammarly, and Zapier all offer free plans.
Create Templates and Prompts: Develop reusable prompts for content creation. This speeds up the process and improves quality.
Monitor & Adjust: Track performance — traffic, engagement, revenue — and tweak your workflows every week.
Stay Involved: Let AI assist, but don’t completely check out. Your brand still needs your voice and vision.

Final Thoughts: Is AI the Ultimate Side Hustle Partner?

After 30 days of letting AI run my side hustles, I walked away convinced: AI is not a magic bullet, but it’s an incredible tool when used wisely. It helped me scale faster, save time, and even earn more — all without burning out.

But success didn’t come from simply pushing a button. It required strategy, oversight, and a willingness to experiment. AI is like hiring a team of interns — they’re fast and eager, but they still need direction.

If you’re an ambitious learner juggling work, family, and a growing side hustle, AI can be your secret weapon. It won’t replace your creativity or business instincts, but it can help amplify them.

Want to learn how to build smarter systems, master automation, and grow your income without working 80-hour weeks? Explore our expert-led courses and community at Mastery HUB. Your future hustle just got a lot more efficient.