We’ve all seen them while scrolling endlessly on our phones.
You know the ones I’m talking about. Maybe it’s a brainrot video with bizarre AI visuals, a Did You Know history fact narrated by a deep voice, or just a montage of incredibly cute puppies that somehow has 5 million views.
You watch it, you laugh or get confused, and you swipe. But have you ever stopped to think about who is making these?
Here is the reality.
A lot of these channels are run by regular people, often with zero video editing experience, who are using AI to automate the entire process.
And they are not just doing it for likes.
Between YouTube AdSense, affiliate marketing for AI tools, and direct sponsorships, many of these faceless channels are pulling in $2,000 or more per month.
I’ve been studying exactly how this works by testing and tracking results across multiple AI Shorts channels, including several that reached consistent monetization. I want to…
The Opportunity
Why Now?
Think of YouTube Shorts and TikTok like a hungry beast that constantly needs to be fed. The demand for short, dopamine-heavy content is higher than ever.
From testing different channels, one thing became clear. The faceless AI model works because any idea that already performs well can be converted into AI video much faster and at a much lower cost.
You just need a concept.
Across the channels I tested, I saw massive success in niches like-
- Cute Animals: AI-generated fluffiness that triggers an instant “aww” response.
- History & Geography: Quick, educational facts (e.g., “What if Germany won WWII?”).
- “Brainrot” / Surrealism: Weird, dream-like AI visuals that keep people hooked just to see what happens next.
But here is the catch.
You cannot just spam junk.
Every failed test channel did that.
To actually make money, you need a strategy.
The 30-Day Experiment
What Realistic Growth Looks Like
After testing and analyzing over 10 AI Shorts channels, I want to zoom in on one recent example that clearly shows how the 30-day claim plays out in practice.
Here is the timeline of what actually happened, and it closely matched what I saw across the other successful tests.
Day 1-2
The channel launched in stealth mode with no friends or family subscribed. Three videos were posted.
4,333 views and 10 subscribers. (btw my first ai video got 11k views) …
New channels usually get an initial test push of around a couple thousand views to see how viewers respond.
Day 14
Consistency kicked in.
Over 250,000 views and 1,700 subscribers.
Day 28
The channel crossed 3,000 subscribers.
This was not magic. It was math. Across multiple channels, the ones that grew focused on speed, consistency, and retention.
Step 1: The Setup (Tools & Costs)
If you want to replicate this, you need a basic tech stack. You cannot just ask ChatGPT to make you a video. You have to assemble the pieces.
Think of it like an assembly line.
The Script
You need a strong hook. ChatGPT or Gemini can generate 60-second scripts. Free tiers are enough to start, while paid plans mainly increase speed and volume.
The Voice
Text-to-speech tools like ElevenLabs provide the most natural voices. Free credits work for testing, but consistent posting usually requires a paid plan.
The Visuals
This is often the biggest cost. Tools like Midjourney, Nano-banana, or DALL-E are used to generate consistent images. Free options exist, but paid plans unlock higher quality and more generations.
The Video
Videos can be created using image slideshows or AI video generators. Tools like Runway, Pika, Kaiber, and similar AI video creators are commonly used to turn images or prompts into short videos.
Final Monthly Cost
Using only free tiers, you can start at close to zero, but you will be limited on output. Most creators move to paid plans within the first month. A typical setup looks like this:
Scripts and planning: free
Voice generation: $5 to $22 per month
Image generation: Free and paid
AI video tools: $10 to $35 per month
Total monthly cost usually lands between $20 and $50.
Step 2: The “Secret Sauce” (Retention is King)
Here is the most critical lesson I learned from analyzing successful channels: Views don’t matter as much as retention.
When you look at your analytics, you will see a metric called “Swiped Away” vs. “Viewed.”
- 50–60% Viewed: This is average. You’ll get a few thousand views.
- 70–80% Viewed: This is viral territory.
To get that 70% number, your video needs to be “dopamine heavy.” This means:
- Fast Transitions: Change the image every 2–3 seconds.
- Auto-Captions: Highlight words as they are spoken (like those Karaoke-style subtitles).
- Sound Design: Background music that matches the mood.
If your content is boring (or “AI Slop”), people swipe. If it feels dynamic, they stay.
Step 3: How to Actually Make Money (Monetization)
Okay, so you have the views. How does that turn into thousands of dollars?
Most people think it’s just YouTube AdSense (where YouTube pays you for views). And yes, once you hit 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views, you get paid. But that is the slow money.
The smart money comes from two other sources:
1. Affiliate Marketing
This is massive. If you run a channel about “AI Art,” you should have a link in your bio for the AI art tool you use.
- If you make a video about “History Facts,” you can link to audiobooks or learning apps.
- Real creators are making incredible income by simply pinning a comment that says: “Want to make videos like this? Here is the tool I use.”
2. Sponsorships
Believe it or not, AI companies are desperate for exposure. If you have a channel that consistently gets 10k-20k views per video, software companies will reach out to you. They might pay you a fixed fee just to use their tool in your video.
The Path Forward
If you start today, you aren’t guaranteed millions of views overnight. But the data shows that with a consistent schedule (1 video per day) and a focus on quality (keeping that retention above 70%), you can build a real audience in roughly 30 days.
The barrier to entry is low, but the barrier to quality is what separates the winners from the spam.
Don’t just generate junk. Be the director. Use AI as your camera crew, but you — the human — need to tell the story. If you can do that, the monetization will follow.
FAQ
Do I need video editing experience to start?
No. Most successful AI Shorts channels rely on simple assembly and automation tools. The focus is on scripting, pacing, and consistency, not advanced editing skills.
Can I really start with free tools?
Yes. Free tiers are enough to test ideas and understand what works. Most creators upgrade once they start posting daily or want higher quality output.
How many videos should I post per day?
One video per day is enough to see results. Posting more only helps if quality and retention stay high.
How long should each Short be?
Most high-performing Shorts land between 20 and 45 seconds. The goal is retention, not length.
Do AI image slides perform worse than AI videos?
No. In testing, fast-paced image slides often performed just as well as AI videos. Pacing and hooks mattered more than visual complexity.
How long does it take to make one video?
With a basic setup, most videos take 10 to 20 minutes from script to upload once the workflow is dialed in.
When can I start monetizing?
Affiliate links and pinned comments can be used from day one. Ad revenue unlocks later, but it should not be your only monetization strategy.
Thanks for reading.
