Summary of Key Points
Recently, there has been a lot of activity from major AI model manufacturers both domestically and internationally (such as the open-source release of Kimi K3 by Moon's Dark Side, Google's introduction of a humanoid intelligence model, and Alibaba's launch of Qwen3.8). As AI technology rapidly evolves, so does the community of AI bloggers. These bloggers serve the general public by providing specialized content, including technical explanations, industry insights, and product reviews, acting as a bridge between cutting-edge technology and ordinary users. However, they face challenges such as limited monetization options (domestically relying on vendor commissions), the difficulty in sustaining revenue from knowledge-based services due to rapid technological updates, and the fear of being replaced by AI itself.
Detailed Analysis
Types of AI Bloggers
AI bloggers are not just those who use AI to create content; they are creators who focus solely on AI. There are four main categories:
- Technical Bloggers: For example, the Weibo influencer "Baoyu xp" (with 1.14 million followers) is a former Microsoft expert who explains technology through practical examples. He shared his transition from technical lead to engineering manager, showing how AI can be used for programming tasks in a way that non-technical people can understand.
- Industry Observers: Bloggers like "Digital Life Kazek" (with 250,000 followers on Weibo) transform complex AI concepts into practical applications. For instance, he created the "Discover Your Talent Prompt" to help users identify their strengths through in-depth conversations with large models.
- Review/ Tutorial Bloggers: For example, "Qiuzhi 2046" (with 1.49 million followers on Douyin) creates tutorials for AI tools, such as teaching the elderly how to use the Doubao phone app, while "Lao Mai's Tool Library" (with 1.44 million followers on Bilibili) evaluates various AI tools to help users avoid pitfalls.
- Tool Developers: For example, "Guicang" developed a PPT generation tool that has received 10,000 stars on GitHub, making it more accessible to everyone.
The presence of these bloggers enables non-technical users to utilize AI without having to understand the underlying technology.
Differences in Monetization Methods
There are significant differences in how AI bloggers make money both domestically and internationally:
- International Bloggers: They have diverse monetization channels. Top bloggers like Matt Wolfe earn from YouTube ad revenue, their own AI tool platforms, and brand partnerships. The Rundown AI (with 2 million subscribers) generates annual income of $7 million from email advertising and courses. Additionally, executives from large tech companies (such as Elon Musk and Sam Kim) often speak out about AI, which not only promotes the technology but also provides new buzzwords.
- Domestic Bloggers: They mainly rely on vendor commissions. Since domestic video platforms offer little ad revenue and few subsidies, AI manufacturers (such as ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent) are willing to invest in promoting their products. For example, "Qiuzhi 2046" promotes the Doubao app, while "Tandongdong" promotes the KuaKe browser, and "Wanneng Lao Wang" promotes Qianwen. Data shows that an AI blogger with 100,000 followers can earn around 17,000 yuan per month from commissions, with the highest-earning bloggers (200,000 followers) earning up to 330,000 yuan. The prosperity of AI content in China is largely due to the financial support of these manufacturers.
Why Are Knowledge-Based Services Not Sustainable?
The popularity of knowledge-based services in the AI field has been short-lived:
- Variable Quality of Courses: Some bloggers copy popular prompts and sell courses, exploiting users' anxiety. For instance, a Tsinghua University doctoral student earned 50 million yuan from selling AI courses in 2023 but had to remove them due to poor quality.
- Rapid Technological Updates: AI tools are becoming increasingly user-friendly, making tutorials quickly obsolete. For example, the AI drawing tutorial that "Nenly Classmate" once taught is now easily achievable with natural language commands, eliminating the need for such courses.
- Changing User Needs: Just as setup guides for smartphones are no longer necessary, users are becoming more familiar with basic AI operations, reducing the need for bloggers to act as intermediaries.
The Biggest Concern for AI Bloggers
The main concern for AI bloggers is whether they will be replaced by AI:
- AI's Ability to Teach Directly: Many AI tools now come with built-in tutorials, eliminating the need for bloggers. In the future, AI may become even more intelligent and capable of answering users' questions directly, potentially diminishing the role of bloggers as disseminators of knowledge.
- Unstable Vendor Support: Domestic bloggers depend on vendor commissions, which can fluctuate depending on market demand. If the growth in AI user numbers slows down, so will vendor investment.
However, there is no need to be too pessimistic. Creative content always has value, and AI bloggers can explore more niche areas or combine AI with other industries (such as creating AI-related video courses) to find new opportunities.
Conclusion
AI bloggers play a crucial role in helping people embrace AI technology, bridging the gap between complexity and practical application. Their success reflects the rapid changes in the AI industry—rapid technological advancement, reliance on vendor support for income generation, and the risk of being replaced by automation. Nevertheless, as long as their content remains valuable, they will always have new ways to thrive.