A Critical Response to Upwork’s “How To Make Money Using AI: Proven Strategies for 2025”

Recently, Upwork published an article titled “How To Make Money Using AI: Proven Strategies for 2025.” It’s a timely piece that explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping freelancing, online entrepreneurship, and digital work opportunities.

As someone who has been experimenting with AI tools for several years to enhance productivity, create income streams, and scale digital projects, I found myself nodding in agreement with many of the points. At the same time, I believe there are aspects that need deeper exploration—especially for readers who want to move beyond inspiration and take practical steps.

This article is both a response and an extension: what Upwork got right, what they overlooked, and what I’ve learned personally from building income streams powered by AI.

What Upwork Got Absolutely Right

1. AI Has Lowered the Barrier to Entry

I strongly agree with Upwork’s claim that AI has democratized access to online income. When I first started, I lacked advanced programming knowledge. Yet tools like ChatGPT, Canva, Jasper AI, and Notion AI gave me the ability to perform tasks—content creation, design, automation—that would have required entire teams just a few years ago.

AI has truly leveled the playing field, enabling freelancers, students, and entrepreneurs to compete globally. I’ve personally used AI to deliver copywriting projects on tight deadlines that would have been impossible otherwise.

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2. The Human Touch Still Matters

Another point I agree with is the emphasis on human creativity. AI can draft a blog post, but without human editing, fact-checking, and a sense of storytelling, the result often feels generic. In my early days, I submitted AI-generated drafts as they were, and while clients didn’t complain, they didn’t return either.

What changed everything was adding my perspective—personal anecdotes, industry insights, and a clear voice. That combination of AI efficiency and human authenticity became my competitive edge.

3. Multiple Income Streams Are Essential

The Upwork article suggests diversifying income sources—whether through freelancing, digital products, or affiliate marketing. From experience, this advice is spot on. I started with freelance writing, then expanded into affiliate partnerships and selling small AI-powered templates. Each new stream added stability to my income.

What Upwork Overlooked

While the article is inspiring, there are critical realities worth mentioning:

1. Oversaturation Is Already Happening

AI content generation is exploding. Thousands of freelancers now offer “AI blog writing” or “AI logo design.” This means standing out is harder than ever. Generic outputs no longer cut it. Success requires specialization—such as focusing on healthcare content, legal tech, or a cultural niche.

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2. Skill Stacking Beats Tool Stacking

Upwork focuses heavily on tools, but what’s often overlooked is skill stacking. AI becomes truly powerful when combined with another discipline: SEO, digital marketing, video editing, or data analysis.

For example, I use ChatGPT to draft articles, but it’s my knowledge of SEO optimization that ensures they rank. Similarly, AI tools can create graphics, but my understanding of branding helps clients see real value.

3. Productivity Pitfalls Are Real

Ironically, AI can waste time instead of saving it. Early in my journey, I spent hours experimenting with prompts and features without producing anything useful. It wasn’t until I set clear output goals—like finishing three high-quality blog posts weekly—that AI truly boosted my productivity.

4. Ethical and Legal Risks Exist

Another missing point is the potential risks: copyright concerns, misinformation, and over-reliance on unverified AI outputs. For instance, I once used AI to draft a product description only to later discover parts were pulled from copyrighted material. Since then, I always cross-check and edit carefully.

Practical Advice From Experience

If you’re serious about leveraging AI for income, here are practical strategies that have worked for me and many others:

1. Start Small and Focused

Choose one niche or service. When I began, I offered only AI-enhanced copywriting. This allowed me to build confidence, refine workflows, and attract repeat clients. Once established, I expanded to templates, SEO consulting, and affiliate marketing.

2. Document Your Journey

One of the smartest things I did was share my process online—both successes and failures. Posting case studies and experiments built credibility and attracted unexpected opportunities. In a crowded market, authenticity is magnetic.

3. Build Systems, Not Just Skills

AI shines when you use it to create repeatable workflows. For example, my blog production system looks like this:

ChatGPT for research and draft outlines
Grammarly for editing
SurferSEO for keyword optimization
Canva for visuals

This workflow allows me to publish at scale without sacrificing quality.

4. Think Beyond Freelancing

Freelance gigs are great, but long-term stability comes from building assets: a blog, YouTube channel, or digital product. AI accelerates content creation, but assets compound over time. The real wealth comes from creating something that continues to generate revenue while you sleep.

A Personal Example

In 2023, I decided to launch a small niche blog about AI tools for remote workers. Using AI, I was able to research keywords, draft 30+ articles, and design visuals in under two months. Initially, traffic was slow. But after refining my SEO strategy and adding human insights to the articles, the site started ranking on Google.

Today, that blog generates consistent ad revenue and affiliate income. The key wasn’t just AI—it was combining AI efficiency with human strategy and persistence.

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Final Thoughts

Upwork’s “How To Make Money Using AI: Proven Strategies for 2025” is an excellent introduction to the opportunities available. But as someone who has navigated this journey firsthand, I’d emphasize:

AI is a tool, not a shortcut.
Human creativity, strategy, and ethics remain essential.
Long-term success comes from building systems and assets, not chasing quick wins.

If you’re ready to explore AI for income, start small, stay consistent, and let AI amplify your unique value. That’s the real formula for sustainable success in 2025 and beyond.

✍️ Written by Tarek Weslati, AI practitioner & digital entrepreneur.