Hello everyone, this is programmer Wan Feng.
Today I'm not talking about technology—I want to share 3 real cases with you.
These cases are compiled from news reports, and the protagonists are ordinary people:
- Some are administrative specialists with zero drawing foundation
- Some are freshly graduated college students
- Some are small business owners, individual merchants
But they have one thing in common:
- They all used a free AI tool (OpenClaw)
- They all did small projects in their spare time
- They all achieved real, tangible results
According to Q2 2025 data:
Newcomers doing "AI + Self-Media" have a 23% probability of earning 500+ yuan per day
While newcomers in traditional side hustle projects (like street vending, managed operations) have a 94% probability of earning less than 5000 yuan per month
Today, I'm revealing all the operation processes of these 3 real cases to you.
Disclaimer: The following cases are from public reports, and income data varies from person to person. Please view rationally.
Case 1: AI Illustrator—From Drawing Beginner to 12,000 Yuan/Month
Character Background (Real Case)
Xiao Zhang, 25, administrative specialist at a Beijing company, zero drawing foundation.
This case was reported by multiple media outlets in 2025.
Side Hustle Path
- March 2025: Discovered AI drawing tools (including OpenClaw)
- April-May 2025: Practiced 2 hours daily
- June 2025: First order income 800 yuan
- October 2025: Monthly income stabilized at 12,000 yuan
Specific Business
Commercial Illustration:
- Corporate promotional images, product images
- Per image charge: 200-500 yuan
Personal Customization:
- Avatars, wallpapers, anniversary greeting cards
- Per image charge: 50-200 yuan
Template Sales:
- Turn works into templates for repeated sales
- Passive income: 3000-5000 yuan/month
Key Tools
Xiao Zhang used tools like OpenClaw, these free AI tools:
- Connect to multiple AI model APIs (Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, etc.)
- Batch generate images for improved efficiency
- Automatically organize customer orders to save time
Xiao Zhang's Investment and Income
Investment:
- Learning time: 2 months (2 hours daily)
- Tool cost: 0 yuan (OpenClaw is free)
- Platform fees: None (using free tools)
Income:
- Commercial illustration: 6000 yuan/month
- Personal customization: 3000 yuan/month
- Template sales: 3000 yuan/month
- Monthly income: 12,000 yuan
Hourly rate: About 300-400 yuan/hour
Xiao Zhang said: "I never expected that I, an administrative worker with zero foundation, could make money from AI drawing."
Case 2: AI + Self-Media—15 万 Monthly Right After Graduation
Character Background (Real Case)
A Yu, a freshly graduated young person, using AI tools to operate self-media.
This case was publicly reported in January 2026.
Side Hustle Path
- Early 2025: Started trying AI + self-media
- Mid 2025: Simultaneously operating 5 accounts
- End of 2025: Monthly income broke through 150,000 yuan
- Daily investment: Only 2 hours
Specific Business
Self-Media Matrix:
- Operating 5 accounts (WeChat Official Account, Xiaohongshu, Video Account)
- Using AI to batch generate content
- Multi-platform distribution to maximize earnings
Income Sources:
- Ad revenue sharing: 80-100k/month
- E-commerce commissions: 30-50k/month
- Knowledge paid content: 20-30k/month
Key Tools
A Yu's core tool was OpenClaw:
- Auto-capture trending topics
- AI generates content drafts
- Multi-platform auto-publishing
- Automated data analysis
A Yu's Investment and Income
Investment:
- Learning time: 1 month (3 hours daily)
- Tool cost: 0 yuan (OpenClaw is free)
- Time investment: 2 hours daily
Income:
- Ad revenue sharing: 80-100k/month
- E-commerce commissions: 30-50k/month
- Knowledge paid content: 20-30k/month
- Monthly income: 150,000 yuan
Hourly rate: About 2500 yuan/hour
According to Q2 2025 data:
Newcomers doing "AI + Self-Media" have a 23% probability of earning 500+ yuan per day
While newcomers in traditional side hustle projects, 94% earn less than 5000 yuan per month
A Yu said: "AI doesn't replace me—it lets me be an entire army by myself."
Case 3: AI Custom Avatars—Online Friend Ah Mei Earns 12,000 Yuan/Month
Character Background (Real Case)
Ah Mei, an online friend, using AI to generate beauty images for side income.
This case was publicly reported in November 2025.
Side Hustle Path
- September 2025: Started using AI to generate images
- October 2025: Started selling on Xiaohongshu
- November 2025: Monthly income broke through 12,000 yuan
Specific Business
AI-Generated Beauty Images:
- Generated using Stable Diffusion + LoRA models
- Style: Soft light, natural makeup, high quality
- Per image: 20-50 yuan
Customized Services:
- Personalized avatar customization
- One-on-one service, 50-100 yuan per order
- Daily orders: 5-10 orders
Tutorial Sales:
- Sharing AI drawing techniques on Xiaohongshu
- Tutorials sold for 99-299 yuan each
- Monthly tutorial income: 3000-5000 yuan
Key Tools
Ah Mei's core tool was also OpenClaw:
- Batch generates images using different styles
- Automatically watermarks and organizes
- Auto-replies to customer inquiries
Ah Mei's Investment and Income
Investment:
- Learning time: 1 month (1 hour daily)
- Tool cost: 0 yuan (OpenClaw is free)
- Time investment: 2-3 hours daily
Income:
- AI image sales: 5000-6000 yuan/month
- Customized services: 3000-4000 yuan/month
- Tutorial sales: 3000-5000 yuan/month
- Monthly income: 12,000 yuan
Hourly rate: About 200-400 yuan/hour
Ah Mei said: "I never expected that ordinary girls like us could also make money with AI."
Common Patterns of These 3 Cases
Pattern 1: Choose the Right Tool
All three chose OpenClaw, a free AI tool:
- No tool costs
- Feature-rich
- Active community
Pattern 2: Start Small, Then Expand
None started with grand plans:
- Xiao Zhang started from one type of illustration
- A Yu started from one platform
- Ah Mei started from one style
Pattern 3: Persistent Practice
All practiced daily:
- Xiao Zhang: 2 hours/day
- A Yu: 2 hours/day
- Ah Mei: 1 hour/day
Pattern 4: Leverage AI for Efficiency
All used AI to improve efficiency:
- Batch generate content
- Automated customer service
- Multi-platform publishing
My Advice
If You Want to Start a Side Hustle
Choose AI + self-media, this is the easiest track for ordinary people to get started:
- Low threshold: No need for professional skills
- High ceiling: Income can break through 100k/month
- AI empowers: Use tools to improve efficiency
If You Want to Try OpenClaw
I prepared a detailed tutorial for you:
《Beginner 10 Minutes! OpenClaw Download and Installation Tutorial》
🎓 Recommended Courses
If you want to systematically learn AI programming and start your own AI side hustle:
《AI Python Zero Foundation Practical Camp》:
✅ 30 systematic lectures + 15+ practical projects
✅ From 0 to 1, hand-in-hand AI programming teaching
✅ Not just teaching technology, but the correct way to use AI
✅ Exclusive Q&A group, me and teaching assistants accompany you throughout
Limited-time benefit: Sign up and get "Python Programming: From Beginner to Practice" physical book (value 178 yuan)
👉 Click for Details, Start Your AI Side Hustle Journey
One Last Thing
The biggest difference between ordinary people and successful people isn't ability—it's the courage to try.
These 3 friends were all ordinary people, but they chose to try AI tools.
You can do it too.
