People Will Always Try to Profit from AI

 (And That’s Not the Scandal You Think It Is)

The ethics of AI art are complicated.
The legality is still undecided.
The opinions are all over the place.

But one thing is certain:

As long as a tool exists, someone will try to make money from it.

That doesn’t mean you have to.
That doesn’t mean you’re wrong if you do.
It just means you're participating in a pattern as old as technology itself.

Let’s talk about what that pattern looks like—so you can understand where AI fits into it, and why the outrage might be missing the point.

Every New Tool Feels Like Cheating at First

When sewing machines were first introduced in the 19th century, they didn’t inspire awe. They inspired violence.

In Paris, a group of over 200 tailors stormed a clothing factory, smashing machines and demanding that the technology be banned. Why? Because it “threatened the integrity of the craft.”

Sound familiar?

When handheld calculators were introduced, engineers and teachers warned that students would lose the ability to understand math.

When typewriters became affordable, professional stenographers were furious—people without formal training could now type just as fast and neat.

When word processors replaced typewriters, typists lost entire careers. So did printing press operators.

And yet—none of those tools were banned.
They became normal.
They got better.
And yes, people made money using them.

AI Art Isn’t Different Because It’s Smarter

It’s different because it’s visible.

What makes this moment so loud isn’t that AI threatens livelihoods. That’s happened before. It’s that:

  • AI tools are public-facing, not behind factory doors

  • The results are creative, not industrial

  • Anyone with a $10 subscription can generate images that rival years of training

  • And people are posting those results everywhere, with no filter

We’re not used to seeing disruption happen in real time. AI isn’t a backroom machine—it’s in your browser. And it’s already showing up on Etsy, Redbubble, Zazzle, and stock art platforms.

So of course the pushback is emotional.

But let’s be clear: using a new tool to create something profitable isn’t unethical by default.
What matters is how you use it—and why.

Yes, People Will Try to Game the System

Some people will generate low-quality junk, upload it by the hundreds, and spam marketplaces with meaningless content.
Some will copy other artists’ prompts, mimic styles, and call it original.
Some will do the bare minimum and expect riches.

That’s always been true.

AI didn’t invent laziness or plagiarism. It just made them faster.

But here’s the thing: those people don’t last.

Low-quality art doesn’t build trust. It doesn’t get good reviews. It doesn’t sell consistently.
Eventually, platforms bury it—or ban it.

And that’s exactly why thoughtful creators still have a place.

If you care about the quality of your work…
If you spend time curating, refining, upscaling, and describing what you’ve made…
If you want your art to mean something to the person who buys it…

Then yes—you can be proud of selling AI art.

Not because it’s trendy.
But because you took a tool that anyone can use, and turned it into something few people do well.

So… Should You Profit From AI?

Only if you’re willing to:

  • Learn the platforms and their limits

  • Format your images properly so they print clearly

  • Present your listings with clarity, not hype

  • Talk honestly about what you made and how you made it

You don’t have to be a fine artist.
But you do have to care.

If that’s you?
Then I’ll show you how to build a small, simple system that works—without cutting corners or waiting for a perfect legal answer.

Want to sell your AI art without the guesswork?

Get on the waitlist for my upcoming course that teaches everything you need to create and sell your AI work.

Up Next: So You Don't Sound Like a Bot-and Actually Make Sales

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