If I wanted to get rich with AI in 2026, I'd do this.

I've done $5M+ in digital product revenue and $20M+ with the help of AI systems.
Here are the only 3 paths that actually work:
PATH ONE: The Distribution Play
(lowest barrier, most underestimated)
Pick 1-2 AI skills and go deeper than 99% of people.
Claude, prompt engineering, agentic workflows - pick one and master it.
Then document the journey publicly on X or YouTube.
Once you have a small but engaged audience, monetise:
- Paid community or membership
- Course or cohort
- Sponsorships
The content doesn't need to be perfect.
It needs to be specific, honest, and useful to someone one step behind you.
PATH TWO: The Consulting Play
(fastest path to real income)
Every entrepreneur I speak to wants to cut headcount but has no idea how.
You become the AI person for businesses that can't afford to hire one full time.
Target local law firms, marketing agencies, real estate offices, accountancy practices.
Your model:
- Audit fee - diagnose their problems
- Solution fee - build and deploy the automation
- Retainer - maintain and update it
Low competition. Enormous demand. Tiny supply of people who can actually deliver.
PATH THREE: The Product Play
(highest ceiling, hardest path)
Build something people pay for.
Three areas worth focusing on:
- Vertical AI tools built for a specific industry
- AI-powered agencies
- Productized services - sell the output, not your time
One rule: PMF comes first. Always.
Only pursue this path if you know exactly what you're building, who it's for, and you already have distribution to back it.
My honest advice on which path to take:
Just starting out → Path One
Have some capital and sales experience → Path Two
Already established, can afford the risk → Path Three
The window is wide open right now.
Save this and plug this entire tweet into Claude to reverse-engineer the best path for you.