MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is a new age content creator and as of June 2025, his YouTube channel boasts over 407 million subscribers and has accumulated more than 87 billion total views.
In recent months, his channel has been averaging approximately 3 billion views per month. This viewership surpasses the combined monthly viewership of the top five U.S. cable networks.
Why it matters
New media (YouTube) and other social media platforms are disrupting old media but AI is the next revolution and replacing expensive production with instant creation. What once took a studio now takes a script, a prompt, and an upload button.
Creators are not only making content but also building global media companies. One-person AI-powered channels can now rival Hollywood in output and profit. If you’re not using AI, you’re competing against those who are and they’ll move faster, cheaper, and smarter.
This isn’t just about content. It’s about a new creator economy, powered by algorithms, attention, and asymmetric scale.
So the real question isn’t “Can AI create?” It’s “How fast can you turn it into a business?“
Well, we have some news for you and it isn’t from Silicon Valley.
In the news
On June 15, 2025, Baidu hosted a 6‑hour livestream with dual AI avatars of Luo Yonghao—powered by its ERNIE model—acting as co‑hosts and interacting in real time and generating 13 million views during the livestream.
The business impact
What stands out here is that we are now witnessing the scaling of our physical presence with digital twins and it can run 24/7 and can be performed on multiple platforms. And the end result was:
- US $7.7 million) in sales.
- 97,000+ words of auto‑generated product descriptions and 8,300+ avatar movements
- In just 26 compared to a full 6 hour session of his in-person streams.
Why this news matters
The creative use of the AI by inventive and innovative entrepreneurs and companies continues to push boundaries and what was seen as magic in the past is now becoming ordinary. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. And as British science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke said “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
The implications are that this use of AI Avatars will become ordinary as many others adopt and add their own innovations. And this news matters because it has shown what is possible.
- Revealed the potential of the use of interactive AI avatars that are our digital twins
- First-ever dual-avatar livestream by a top-tier influencer.
- Scalable & cost-efficient: Baidu now reportedly supports 100,000+ AI hosts, slashing livestream costs by ~80% and boosting average GMV by 62%
- Signals a shift toward automated, always-on content, driven by large-language/video AI models.
Going deeper
So, AI isn’t the end of the creator economy. It’s the beginning of a new one. And Luo Yonghao’s avatar, powered by Baidu’s ERNIE model, is proof of that shift: a digital twin leading the charge in AI-generated video.
The AI wave is rearranging the creator economy and reshaping the terrain. From music to video, from writing to visual art, AI is becoming a co-creator, collaborator, and even competitor.
For digital creators, this isn’t just about faster workflows or cheaper content. It’s about an entirely new playbook. And the challenge is that is happening so fast we are writing that book as we go.
8 creator niches to watch
AI is impacting different media in different ways. And most creators will be using 3-4 of these such as sound, video, images and text.
Keep in mind that AI is built on large language models and that means text (words) is the foundational media
In this article, we’ll break down the major creator niches—Music, Video, Text, Images, Courses, Influencers, Voice, and Avatars—and show how AI is disrupting each one, what new business models are emerging, and what tools are leading the charge.
1. Music creators
Imagine writing a one-sentence prompt and getting a full studio-quality song—vocals, instruments, mixing—delivered in under a minute. That’s not the future. That’s now.
Earlier this year, the viral AI music tool Suno let anyone type:
“A 90s-style pop song about lost love with female vocals.”
…and out came a fully produced track, indistinguishable from a human artist’s demo.
One creator even used it to make an entire EP in a weekend, with lyrics, vocals, and production all generated by AI. They uploaded it to Spotify, promoted it on TikTok, and earned their first 10,000 streams—without ever stepping into a studio.
AI isn’t just helping musicians. It’s democratizing the entire industry, slashing production costs to near-zero, and letting anyone with an idea release music to the world.
Let’s look at how it’s disrupting the music creator economy, the business models emerging from this shift, and the tools making it all possible.
Suddenly anyone with a melody in mind can share it on Spotify—a shift that once required years of training and studio access.
Disruption: AI music generators like Suno, Udio, and Boomy let anyone generate original songs via simple prompts. That’s a revolution—and a risk—for traditional musicians.
Opportunities:
- Monetize generative tracks for games, ads, and YouTube libraries.
- Build royalty-free AI music brands.
Example: Artists using TikTok to publish AI-generated songs in viral-friendly styles.
Future Model: “Prompt-to-Track” marketplaces that deliver made-to-order songs for creators, marketers, and indie games.
Case Study
Hatsune Miku – The virtual Vocaloid singer powered by AI voice synthesis, featured in hit tracks like “Candy Dance” using AI-generated vocals. That has inspired other platforms such as
Reelmind.ai to take the sound and insert it into images and video.
2. Video creators
A startup-backed by a16z called Hedra stunned the internet when its AI-generated “baby interviewing a dog” video went viral—so magically realistic it raised $32 M in Series A backing. Today AI makes it possible to produce shareable, emotionally engaging video narratives with just an image and a prompt.
Watch it here.
Disruption: Tools like HeyGen (AI avatars), Runway (auto-editing), and Pika (text-to-video) are turning video production into a solo sport.
Opportunities:
- Launch a “one-person video agency” with AI-powered workflows.
- Repurpose content using dubbing with Rask AI or Papercup.
Example: I am my own creator that is already using Heygen to pump out daily short-form AI videos as I summon my Digital Twin to share doses of inspiration without the perspiration with zero editing staff.
Future Model: This will be when you can create “Generative AI” choose-your-own-adventure videos where users influence story arcs via AI.
Case Study
Well… I am my own case study here and I use Heygen to create short videos that I share on Instagram Reels and also YouTube shorts.
3. Text and words (Writers, bloggers and newsletter creators)
The AI-writing platform Youbooks promises to convert your idea into a 300,000-word non‑fiction book using a blend of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and LLaMA—all in mere minutes—for under $50. That’s entire books written faster than coffee can brew.
Source: Youbooks.com
Disruption: Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Jasper can churn out full blog posts, emails, and stories in minutes.
Opportunities:
- Curated micro-newsletters with AI assistance (e.g. via Beehiiv or Substack).
- Ghostwriting services using AI and your editing voice.
Example: Ben’s Bites grew to 100K+ readers blending AI summaries and founder commentary.
Future Model: Writers train GPTs on their style and sell branded “AI ghost clones” for journaling, content, or coaching.
Case study
Ben’s Bites – A popular Substack blending AI-generated summaries with founder commentary for rapid newsletter growth
4. Images and visuals (Artists & designers)
AI-powered creations have reached fine-art status: Botto, trained to generate artwork collectively, has produced over 150 pieces and sold them for $5 million at auction. The canvas of creation now includes machines—and the art market is taking notice.
Disruption: Generative image tools like Midjourney, DALL·E 3, and Ideogram are redefining creative workflows.
Opportunities:
- Create and sell art on platforms like Etsy, Displate, or Redbubble.
- Launch digital IP brands starting from AI mood boards or character designs.
Example: Prompt artists selling downloadable poster packs and pre-designed comic covers.
Future Model: Collaborative franchises where audiences vote on AI-generated visual storylines.
Case Study
Prompt artists on Midjourney Discord channels create and sell AI-generated posters or comic art.
5. Podcasters & audio creators
Services like Voiceslab.io enable creators to clone high-quality voices and generate audiobooks or podcast episodes in minutes—no studio or long recording sessions required. The value of a unique voice just became immortal—and infinitely scalable.
Disruption: Voice cloning via ElevenLabs, AI production tools like Podcastle, and dubbing platforms are transforming podcasting.
Opportunities:
- Auto-translate podcasts into multiple languages.
- Launch solo shows with AI co-hosts or scripted guests.
Example:
ElevenLabs showcases examples of entire dialogues and interviews between AI voices with different personalities—effectively simulating multi-guest podcasts.
- ElevenLabs Character Playground lets you script interactive dialogues between multiple AI personas.
- Companies are prototyping autonomous AI podcast hosts that generate episodes in real time.
Future Model but emerging fast: Fully AI-hosted podcasts that take live audience prompts and conduct interviews with other agents or synthetic personas.
Case Study
Hosts using Podcastle with ElevenLabs voice cloning can reproduce podcasts in multiple languages
6. Course creators & educators
Justin Welsh is a solopreneur who has sold over $5 million in digital courses about solopreneurship and LinkedIn growth.
AI Use Case:
- Uses ChatGPT to brainstorm course outlines in minutes instead of hours.
- Drafts sales page copy, email sequences, and even social posts with AI writing tools.
- Structures course modules with AI-assisted scripts to speed up video recording.
- Leverages AI tools like Descript to edit videos rapidly.
Impact:
Justin has built multiple 6-figure courses solo, without a production team. AI allowed him to cut production time from months to weeks while keeping his style consistent and human.
Result:
Over $5M in course sales with no employees, proving that AI can turn a solo creator into a profitable education business.
Disruption: AI now assists with course planning, content creation, video, and quizzes.
What’s Changing: You can generate entire modules from scratch and create lessons in days, not weeks.
Popular Tools:
- Kajabi AI Creator Hub: Auto-create course structure and content.
- Synthesia: Create videos with AI avatars and scripts.
Emerging Business Models:
- “1-day course launch” agencies: Launch micro-courses fast using AI video + slides.
- Prompt-to-course services: Use AI to turn coaching materials into evergreen courses.
- AI companion courses: Pair curriculum with a chatbot tutor.
Example: Kieran Drew is a former dentist turned writer and course creator who has built a 6-figure business teaching audience building and writing.
AI Use Case:
- Uses ChatGPT to structure full course syllabi in a single session.
- Generates bullet-point scripts for course videos, emails, and sales pages.
- Summarizes his long-form writing into concise lesson plans.
- Produces multiple marketing assets (tweets, LinkedIn posts, landing page headlines) via AI.
Impact:
Kieran launched his premium courses faster and with more polish, increasing his revenue without hiring a content team. AI acts as his silent co-writer, reducing creative friction and accelerating production. And built a 6-figure+ educational business in under 2 years—scaling his solo writing into highly sellable knowledge products.
7. Influencers, virtual influencers & personal brands
Virtual influencers like Spain’s Aitana Lรณpez—a computer-generated supermodel—have signed deals with top fashion brands, built followings of millions, and operate completely digitally.
Source: Euronews
No passport, no production crew, no limits.
AI lets influencers create, market, and sell digital products—without touching a warehouse or a studio.
Disruption: AI manages content strategy, posting, and persona generation.
What’s Changing: Influence is becoming scalable—replicating yourself with AI avatars and content agents.
Popular Tools:
- Beehiiv: AI tools for newsletter creation and growth.
- Taplio: AI-assisted LinkedIn content scheduling and optimization.
- Recast Studio: Turn blogs into short video clips automatically.
Emerging Business Models:
- Virtual influencer startups: Launch a TikTok avatar with a unique personality and monetizable fan base.
- AI-powered micro-influencers: Scale a personal brand across niches using avatars.
- Content-as-a-Service (CaaS): Manage 10+ influencer accounts via automation.
- Brand avatar partnerships: License your AI version to companies for ad campaigns.
Example 1: Karen X Cheng uses AI to create viral videos blending tech, art, and brand deals—scaling her influence without a full production team.
Example 2: Lil Miquela, the virtual influencer, has brand deals with Prada and Calvin Klein—human yet not human.
8. Thought leaders
The age of the solo intellectual who writes, teaches, and consults by hand is being replaced by the AI-augmented thought leader. With the right tools, a single expert can now produce content at the scale of a media company, translate their ideas into multiple languages, and show up on video, even when they’re asleep.
This isn’t just faster content creation. It’s a new business model for experts, coaches, consultants, and niche authorities who want to package their knowledge into scalable, repeatable products that sell themselves.
Alex Hormozi, the entrepreneur and author of “$100M Offers,” has become a prolific thought leader whose brand is a masterclass in AI-enabled scaling:
- Content multiplication: Using AI and human teams to turn one podcast episode into dozens of LinkedIn posts, tweets, reels, and YouTube shorts.
- Script generation: Leveraging ChatGPT and other writing tools to speed up scripting for ad creatives, landing pages, and long-form content.
- Video avatars: Experimenting with tools like HeyGen to test messaging variations and generate low-cost, high-volume video ads.
- Personal brand at scale: Present everywhere—from TikTok to podcasts—without being in the studio daily.
Hormozi doesn’t just create content; he’s industrialized it. AI is a key part of his system for making sure his brand’s insights and personality are visible 24/7, even when he’s not.
Disruption:
AI is enabling solo thought leaders to scale like media companies—auto-generating newsletters, books, slide decks, and even video lectures without a team.
Opportunities:
Package your expertise using tools like ChatGPT + Notion + Beehiiv to launch AI-assisted newsletters, keynote decks, and monetizable frameworks.
Use Synthesia or HeyGen to deliver lectures via AI avatar. Turn your IP into a course in a weekend using CourseAI or Kajabi’s AI Creator Hub.
Example:
Consultants and authors are using ChatGPT to co-write LinkedIn carousels, ghostwrite books, and spin public talks into multi-format content funnels.
Emerging Business Models:
AI-powered thought leaders with 24/7 clones that speak, write, coach, and teach in multiple languages—delivering influence, impact, and income at scale.
- AI spokesperson services: White-label avatars to brands for training, onboarding, or marketing.
- Digital twin creators: Build a monetizable version of yourself for speaking gigs, consultations, or content creation.
Case Study:
Paul Roetzer, founder of the Marketing AI Institute, uses AI to generate research, reports, presentations, and strategic frameworks—turning a solo vision into a scalable, multi-channel brand. marketingaiinstitute.com
Final thoughts
For generations, being a successful creator meant mastering your craft and battling the barriers of production cost, time, and distribution. You needed teams, studios, editors, marketers—gatekeepers everywhere.
AI has demolished those barriers.
Today, one person with the right tools can write a book, produce a viral video, design an art collection, clone their voice, launch an entire course, or even manage a personal brand that shows up in multiple languages and formats at once.
It’s not that creativity has been automated—it’s been amplified.
But here’s the big shift:
The winners in this new world won’t just be the most creative, or the most technical. They’ll be the ones who understand how to orchestrate all these AI capabilities into cohesive, authentic, and scalable businesses.
Whether you’re a musician using Suno to produce tracks, a writer automating newsletters with ChatGPT, a virtual influencer marketing with avatars, or a thought leader delivering 24/7 expertise via AI video and writing—your potential reach has never been greater.
But your biggest advantage? The human insight, voice, and strategy you layer on top of these tools.
Because in the end, AI can generate. But only you can decide what’s worth saying, who it’s for, and why it matters. This is the era of the AI-augmented creator. And it’s only just getting started.
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* This article was originally published here