Quick Summary of the Core Content
Recently, there's been a trend of young people becoming wealthy through AI: in the past, developing a simple app or mini-program required a professional team with programming skills, which could take weeks or even months. Now, children who don't know how to code at all can create usable products in just a few days using various AI tools. Two of the most notable cases are a 13-year-old girl who, with the help of AI, created over 200 different types of apps and charged millions for custom orders, and a young entrepreneur who earned 18,000 yuan in three days by selling AI-made tools. After these stories went viral, many people claimed that "in the AI era, ordinary people can make money without learning technology," but the reality behind it is far more complex than it seems.
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Detailed Explanation
Why has the idea of "creating apps without coding" gone from a joke to a reality? AI has eliminated the highest barriers in the industry.
In the past, the most challenging part of developing apps or mini-programs was writing code. You needed to know at least three or four programming languages, understand interface design, server management, and bug debugging. A beginner without two to three years of experience couldn't create anything usable—it was like trying to carve wood without any prior skills. Now, AI tools do all the heavy lifting. Even if you don't know what code is, you just need to describe the functionality you want (for example, an app for a奶茶 shop that gives a free drink with every three purchases and automatically shares updates on social media). AI either generates the code for you or, in many no-code AI platforms, you can simply drag pre-made modules together (such as check-ins, points, and sharing) to create a functional app in half an hour. Previously, starting a software business would require hiring several programmers with high salaries; now, you can do it alone from home with almost zero cost.
The 13-year-old girl who charged millions and the young entrepreneur who earned 18,000 yuan in three days: They didn't earn money from their technical skills.
When people see these stories, their first reaction is often, "These kids are more skilled than ten-year-old programmers!" But that's not the case. The 18,000-yuan earnings in three days were mostly from selling a tutorial on how to use AI to make money. The 13-year-old girl shared her story on short videos and social media, attracting people who wanted to learn how to do it. She sold the tutorial for 99 yuan each, earning 18,000 yuan in total. The 18,000 yuan came from the fees of those who wanted to learn, not from selling the tools themselves. The 13-year-old girl who created 200 apps and charged millions was taking advantage of a knowledge gap: many traditional business owners didn't realize how cheap and fast AI-based apps could be. In the past, custom software systems would cost tens of thousands; now, a child can create them in three days for just a few thousand, and business owners think they're getting a great deal. After accumulating a few projects, she could charge millions for larger custom orders, taking advantage of people's ignorance about AI’s capabilities.
There are hidden pitfalls to this trend of AI-driven wealth creation.
Many successful stories online don't mention the challenges faced:
- The products often aren't reliable: AI-generated code may seem functional but often has bugs, and without knowledge of coding, you can't fix them, leading to significant losses.
- There are copyright issues: AI code may copy open-source projects, and if the original creators sue, the person using it could face substantial fines.
- There's no real barrier to entry: Others can easily replicate your tools, and if you charge a fee, competitors can offer cheaper versions, making it unsustainable in the long run.
This trend actually shows a new path for ordinary people.
We don't need to envy the 13-year-old girl’s success, but this trend can be beneficial for everyone. For example, if you want to start a pet shop with a membership booking system, you used to spend thousands; now, you can create it with AI in just an afternoon, saving that money. As a student, you can create a tool to help classmates with exam review materials and earn some money from membership fees. Even if you don’t plan to start a business, AI can help you quickly develop tools for data analysis or internal use, enhancing your competitiveness in the workplace. In short, AI reduces the cost of turning ideas into products from tens of thousands to almost nothing, allowing ordinary people to quickly turn small ideas into profitable products without being hindered by technical barriers.