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The brutal math: 97% of people jumping into the AI gold rush will lose money. Not because AI doesn't work, but because they're mining fool's gold while the real opportunities sit right under their noses.
Most AI entrepreneurs are chasing the wrong game entirely. They're building ChatGPT wrappers, selling $50 automation setups, or becoming one of 50,000 AI consultants competing for the same clients. Meanwhile, the 3% who actually get rich understand something completely different about where the money flows in AI.
Nico breaks down the harsh economics behind AI businesses. Why inference costs dropping 90% since 2023 killed most AI service models. How platform owners like OpenAI and Anthropic capture 70% of the value while everyone else fights for scraps. And the counterintuitive truth about where real AI fortunes are actually being made right now.
In This Episode: > Why 50,000+ new AI startups launched in 2024 but less than 2% hit serious revenue > The "commodity trap" that's destroying AI consultant pricing power > How smart operators are using AI to cut costs by 40% instead of selling AI services > The three specific verticals where AI businesses actually print money > Why the biggest AI opportunity isn't building AI at all
Timestamps: 00:00 The AI entrepreneur death spiral 02:15 Platform capture: Who really wins in AI 04:30 Why inference cost drops killed most business models 06:45 The commodity trap destroying consultant rates 08:20 Where the 3% actually make their money 10:30 The counterintuitive play that's working
If you're betting your career on AI, you need to hear this reality check before you join the 97%. Follow The Value Engine for the unfiltered truth about AI business models that actually work. New episodes drop daily.
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