TL;DR: This article outlines a proven three-phase system—Learn the Thing, Sell the Thing, Teach the Thing—using 10 specific AI tools to help beginners build scalable online businesses and achieve substantial income, with a realistic path to $1 million by 2026 or 2027.
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📺 Title: 10 AI Tools to Make Your First Million in 2026 (for real)
⏱️ Duration: 1368
👤 Channel: Liam Ottley
🎯 Topic: Tools Make Your
💡 This comprehensive article is based on the tutorial above. Watch the video for visual demonstrations and detailed explanations.
In 2025, a 25-year-old entrepreneur with no college degree and no wealthy family backing is on track to generate just under $10 million USD online—with over $1 million in personal take-home profit. How? By strategically leveraging AI tools to build scalable, high-value businesses in the booming AI services space.
This isn’t hype. It’s a repeatable blueprint—one that has already helped thousands of beginners go from zero to consistent $10K–$20K/month incomes, with a clear path to seven figures. And now, for the first time, the exact 10 AI tools powering this success are being revealed—not as a random list, but as part of a structured, three-phase system: Learn the Thing, Sell the Thing, Teach the Thing.
If you’ve ever dreamed of quitting your job, booking that vacation, or finally grabbing those Taylor Swift tickets—this guide is your launchpad. Even if you don’t hit $1 million in 2026, you’ll build a foundation that makes it inevitable by 2027. Let’s dive in.
Why Most People Won’t Make $1 Million (And Why That’s Okay)
Let’s be brutally honest: 99.9% of viewers won’t make $1 million in the next 12 months. The journey is hard, competitive, and demands real work. But as the speaker wisely notes: “Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you’ll end up among the stars.”
Hitting $10K–$20K per month is a life-changing win. It means financial freedom, career autonomy, and the confidence to scale further. And the best part? That income level is **entirely achievable** for beginners using the right AI tools and business model—no prior experience required.
The Proven Path to $1 Million in the AI Era
Forget get-rich-quick schemes. The only realistic route to $1 million in 12 months is to start your own business. But not just any business. It must meet five critical criteria:
- Must be a business you own—not a job or side hustle with capped income.
- Beginner-friendly with low barrier to entry—no $100K startup capital needed.
- Low cost to launch—you should be able to start with under $100.
- In a high-growth industry—like AI, which is exploding globally.
- Proven to work for people in your position—not experimental or untested.
The **only model** that checks all these boxes in 2025? An AI service business that sells one (or more) of the following to small businesses:
- AI Education – Training teams on how to use AI tools effectively.
- AI Consulting – Auditing workflows and recommending AI solutions.
- AI Development – Building no-code/low-code AI automations (e.g., chatbots, voice agents, internal tools).
And yes—this is **accessible to anyone** with “a fully functioning brain and 10 fingers.” The speaker started with zero AI knowledge in early 2023 from his spare bedroom. Today, his agency, Morningside AI, works with NBA teams, publicly traded companies, and major sports leagues.
The “Learn, Do, Teach” Flywheel: Your Million-Dollar Engine
The fastest path to scaling isn’t just selling services—it’s creating a self-reinforcing feedback loop between hands-on work and scalable products. This is the “Learn the Thing, Do the Thing, Teach the Thing” model:
- Learn a valuable AI skill (e.g., AI audits, no-code automation).
- Do it for paying clients (e.g., run 30 AI consulting engagements).
- Teach it by packaging your process into a course, template, or DIY program.
This avoids the “fake guru” trap—where someone sells outdated courses without doing real client work. Instead, your agency fuels your content, and your students’ feedback improves your services. It’s a **virtuous cycle** that compounds value and income.
Real-World Example: From $3K Audit to $297 DIY Course
Imagine you offer AI Tools Audits for $3,000. After 30 clients, you’ve refined a repeatable process. Now, when a prospect says, “Too expensive,” you offer a $297 DIY course that teaches them to run the audit themselves—using your exact framework.
Result? You monetize both high-ticket and low-ticket audiences, while your course content stays fresh because you’re still doing live audits.
Another Example: Niche AI Automation for Roofers
You build AI systems for 20 roofing companies using no-code tools. You discover the top 3 use cases (e.g., lead follow-up, estimate generation, scheduling). You then create a “Roofers’ AI Automation Program” that includes:
- Pre-recorded training on best practices
- Templates for common workflows
- Access to vetted AI automation engineers
- Monthly coaching calls
Now you’re selling a $1,000–$5,000 program alongside your $10K–$30K agency services—**doubling your revenue streams**.
Phase 1: Learn the Thing – 5 AI Tools to Build Your Knowledge Gap
Your goal isn’t to become an AI expert—it’s to get **just ahead of your clients**. If they’re at “0” on AI knowledge, you need to be at “15.” These five tools help you build that edge quickly:
1. ChatGPT – The Foundation of AI Literacy
Despite its ubiquity, ChatGPT remains the #1 ROI driver for businesses adopting AI. Why? Because it solves real problems: content creation, research, coding, customer support.
Your opportunity: Learn to use it *strategically*—with custom instructions, file uploads, web browsing—and teach small businesses how to do the same. Morningside AI charges $8,000–$10,000 for a 3-hour team workshop on this alone.
2. Claude – The Underrated Powerhouse
Claude (by Anthropic) often outperforms ChatGPT in reasoning, document analysis, and long-context tasks. Its new “Claude Skills” feature lets you build multi-step AI workflows (e.g., “Analyze this sales transcript, summarize objections, draft follow-up email”).
Your offer: Bundle ChatGPT + Claude training. Show marketing teams how to use Claude for campaign ideation, or sales teams how to auto-generate call summaries. Position it as “AI Team Enablement.”
3. Lovable (or Any AI App Builder) – Your No-Code Gateway
Tools like Lovable, Bubble, or Durable let you build full websites and apps with natural language. You can rebuild a client’s outdated site in hours for $300—and then upsell AI features:
- AI chatbots for customer support
- Internal dashboards for lead tracking
- Custom CRM integrations
This is your on-ramp to $10K–$50K development projects. Start simple, then layer in complexity as you learn.
4. Retell AI – Voice Agents That Print Money
AI voice agents deliver some of the clearest ROI in small business. Examples:
- An AI receptionist that books appointments 24/7
- A follow-up caller that reactivates cold leads
- A survey bot that collects customer feedback
Platforms like Retell AI or Vapi make this easy. Learn to configure voice flows, connect to calendars, and integrate with CRMs. Charge $1,500–$5,000 per deployment.
5. Make.com – The Automation Backbone
Make.com (formerly Integromat) is the most beginner-friendly automation tool in the AI space. It connects apps like Gmail, Slack, Airtable, and AI models into powerful workflows.
A student in the speaker’s program made $100,000 in his first year just by offering “AI Automation Setup” using Make.com. Common use cases:
- Auto-generate social posts from blog content
- Send AI-summarized meeting notes to team members
- Qualify leads from website forms using AI scoring
Which Learning Tool Should You Pick?
You don’t need to master all five. Choose based on your strengths:
| Tool | Best For | First Offer Idea |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT + Claude | Non-technical communicators | “AI Team Onboarding Workshop” ($5K–$10K) |
| Lovable | Creative builders | “AI-Powered Website Redesign” ($300–$1,500) |
| Retell AI | Sales/customer service minds | “24/7 AI Appointment Setter” ($2K–$5K) |
| Make.com | Process-oriented thinkers | “Custom AI Workflow Setup” ($1K–$3K) |
Phase 2: Sell the Thing – 3 AI Tools to Get Clients Without Burning Out
Now that you have a skill, you need clients. But cold calling and endless proposals don’t scale. These tools automate your outreach and content:
6. BLOOM AI (or Pictory AI) – Your Content Engine
Creating daily content is exhausting—unless you use AI whiteboarding tools like Pictory AI (the speaker’s $1,000/year tool) or the more affordable BLOOM AI.
How it works:
- Paste in competitor videos, blog posts, or research reports.
- The AI analyzes patterns and generates new content ideas.
- Use the chat interface to “reskin” successful formats into your niche.
This is how the speaker grew to 700,000 YouTube subscribers in 3 years—by systemizing content creation, not grinding 18-hour days.
7. Instantly AI – Cold Email That Actually Converts
Instantly AI is the gold standard for cold email outreach. It handles:
- Email verification (to avoid spam traps)
- Automated follow-up sequences
- Personalization at scale (e.g., “I saw your post about X…”)
- A/B testing subject lines
Target local small businesses (dentists, roofers, agencies) who haven’t adopted AI yet. Your pitch: “I help businesses like yours save 20+ hours/week with AI. Can I show you how in a 15-minute call?”
8. [Implied Tool] LinkedIn + Organic Content – The Trust Builder
While not named explicitly, the transcript emphasizes organic content as your #1 sales channel. Post case studies, quick tips, and behind-the-scenes builds. Over time, this attracts inbound leads who already trust you—making sales 10x easier.
Phase 3: Teach the Thing – 2 AI Tools to Scale Beyond 1:1 Services
Trading time for money caps your income. To hit $1 million, you need scalable products. These tools help you package your knowledge:
9. Circle.so or Podia – Your Course & Community Platform
Once you’ve done 20–30 client projects, extract your methodology into a DIY course or membership. Use platforms like:
- Circle.so – For community-driven programs (e.g., monthly coaching + peer support)
- Podia – For simple course + digital product sales
Price points: $297–$2,000. This turns one-time clients into recurring revenue.
10. Notion AI – Your Knowledge Repository
As you refine your processes, document everything in Notion. Use Notion AI to:
- Auto-generate SOPs from meeting notes
- Turn client feedback into course improvements
- Create templates for audits, proposals, and onboarding
This becomes the backbone of your scalable offer—ensuring consistency and quality as you grow.
Avoiding the “Fake Guru” Trap: Why You Must Keep Doing Client Work
The biggest mistake? Stopping client work once you launch a course. Without fresh insights, your content becomes stale. The speaker still runs Morningside AI at full scale—signing bigger deals than ever—because:
- Client work fuels new course material
- Student questions reveal gaps in your agency’s approach
- Real-world results build credibility for your offers
This dual-track model is why his business keeps compounding—while “gurus” fade after one viral course.
Your First 90-Day Action Plan
Don’t get overwhelmed. Follow this sequence:
| Weeks | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Pick ONE tool (e.g., Make.com) and build 3 sample automations | Portfolio pieces to show prospects |
| 3–4 | Offer free AI audit to 5 local businesses in exchange for testimonials | Social proof + case studies |
| 5–8 | Use Instantly AI to pitch 50 businesses/week; close 2–3 clients at $1K–$3K | $5K–$10K in revenue |
| 9–12 | Document your process; launch a $297 DIY guide for your niche | First scalable product |
Real Proof: From Spare Bedroom to NBA Deals
This isn’t theory. The speaker’s journey:
- Early 2023: Zero AI knowledge, working from spare bedroom
- Late 2023: Launched Morningside AI; landed first small business clients
- 2024: Scaled to 260,000-person community; started podcast interviewing top AI earners
- 2025: Working with NBA teams, publicly traded companies, and Australian rugby leagues on six-figure AI contracts
And OpenAI sent his company an award—proof that his approach is not just profitable, but industry-recognized.
Free Resource: Your Step-by-Step Implementation Guide
The speaker mentions a free companion guide that includes:
- Exact scripts for AI audit proposals
- Links to podcast episodes with $100K+ AI earners
- Templates for DIY courses and automation workflows
- Interviews with top students who scaled using this model
While the link isn’t in the transcript, it’s implied to be in the video description—so check his YouTube channel for “Morningside AI.”
Final Truth: Skeptics Sound Smart, Optimists Make Money
Yes, you should be skeptical of “get rich with AI” claims. But this model is different: it’s proven, transparent, and built on real client work. If this video gives you even a 30% chance of building your dream life in the next 2–3 years—isn’t it worth trying?
As the speaker says: “Give it a chance. Check the tapes. Look at 3 years of real progress.”
Key Takeaways: Your Million-Dollar Checklist
- ✅ Start an AI service business (education, consulting, or no-code development)
- ✅ Pick ONE of the 5 learning tools and master it
- ✅ Use BLOOM AI and Instantly AI to get clients without burnout
- ✅ After 20–30 clients, package your process into a DIY course
- ✅ Never stop doing client work—it keeps your offers fresh and credible
- ✅ Aim for $10K–$20K/month first; $1 million is the next milestone
The tools are here. The model is proven. The only question is: Will you take the first step?
