In the fast-paced digital bazaar of the 21st century, yet another fables is heard in the corridors of YouTube and TikTok: "Get rich quick with AI!" It seems as if the words of this enchanting melody are saying that the profits are ready to be taken out of the computer monitors and into your wallet, even though it is just a fantasy. However, what can we understand by being "successful" in the time of artificial intelligence and e-commerce? Let's be inspired by Socrates who once commented, "I only know that I know that I know nothing." and let's apply this philosophy to the AI age akin to the forty-niners gold-rush times.

The AI Business Bonanza: A Critical Overview

This "Book of Dead AI Business Ideas" that we would put together today is the bootstrap of a style book of crazy money-making ideas that only reflect their arguments in graphic design software, but actually they bring only digital dusts. These with-it pitchmen imply that the whole heroic business is to accomplish the ChatGPT task and in return to get a handsome profit of $1,350 per day, which happens to be the same as an ATM machine distributing money every time of the day. Of course, I am kidding, but seriously what if it was that easy to use prompts and have a software give us profits instead of hard work, is what one has to ask?

And in any case, Selah, how easy it was, wouldn't everybody already be living the dream and rocking on their personal islands?

The Siren Song of Easy Money

All over YouTube, the internet is teemed with DIY videos that clam the key to wealth is just AI technology:

"Generate thousands of product ideas with one prompt!"

"Create an Etsy empire with AI-designed T-shirts!"

"Build a Shopify store that prints money while you sleep!"

These online quacks play on our greed by promising financial independence, self-expression and the magic of making money while we don't do anything. In other words, as it was well said by Horace, the Latin lyric poet, "He who is greedy is always in want."

The Dangers of Instant Success as a Mirage

Consider this real-world example: A 16-year-old boy, inspired by TikTok "self-made teen millionaires," convinced his mother to spend half her salary on a pair of sneakers he believed he could flip for profit. This anecdote illustrates the harmful impact of e-commerce gurus and their deceptive narratives. These influencers showcase their businesses, creating the illusion that success is solely about products, while obscuring the critical role of distribution and marketing.

The reality is intuitive: no teenager should risk their family's financial stability on a get-rich-quick scheme. The true path to business success is far more complex and demanding than simply acquiring a product to resell.

The Intricacies of Online Businesses that One Never Knows About

Successful online companies employ knowledge that goes beyond handling technical issues or AI-(artificial intelligence) generated material. Let's look at some of them, e.g., these sobering statistics that act as if to say that there are many different aspects to reach e-commerce success. According to a recent Forbes article on small business statistics (https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/small-business-statistics/):

Survival Rates: Only about 50% of small businesses survive for five years or more. The point is that it is much better to run a business that really works in the long term instead of looking for a short-term quick fix.

Financial Management: 29% of small businesses fail because they run out of cash. This points out the need for careful financial planning and finding ways to make money instead of the current methods of distribution and marketing.

Home-Based Opportunities: 50% of small business are home-based, implying that you are not compelled to acquire a huge physical premise in order to establish a prosperous online business. However, the concomitant of this is increased competition in the digital space.

Digital Marketing: 74% of small businesses use social media for marketing. Meanwhile, such a number proves the crucial role that companies can play via their presence on the web, it also underlines the importance of advertising practices that are the most authentic and ethical amid the over-crowded digital space.

The data successfully conveys that the key to success in online deals is not the quick yield of returns or track resources that can be sold off. It requires the sustainability of ways, creation of real bonds, and the adaptation of the merchandising of our goods to satisfy the real customer needs ethically and responsibly. The long and meaningful way is not the one with the shortcuts, but the one with the hard work, study, and good distribution tactics.

The Epicurean Trap of AI Business

Many AI business gurus advocate what we might call an "Epicurean" approach to entrepreneurship. In philosophy, Epicureanism suggests that the highest good is pleasure and the absence of pain. Similarly, these gurus promise maximum profits with minimum effort.

Nonetheless, this perspective is flawed both in the field of business and in addressing some of the more meaningful challenges of life. The philosopher Miguel de Unamuno refuted the approach of viewing death from the Epicurean's point of view, he grounded his argument in the idea that contending with the battles of life is the most preferable option to avoiding them. The intrinsic value of business is not the commission of problems skillfully dodged but the emotionally engaged solutions.

Just as Unamuno advocated for a deeper and more engaged approach to life and death, we must also practice such introspection in business and show our dedication, willingness, and ability to solve complex problems. The road to meaningful success is not through short-cuts but through the hard work and still learning.

The Moral Aspects with Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

However, the moral side must not be overlooked too. Many of these AI schemes are in business as they are not solving real problems; most of the time they create artificial needs and manipulate the existing weaknesses. As entrepreneurs, we should ask ourselves: are we contributing value to society, or are we merely extracting wealth through clever marketing?

The Scenic Community to Real Triumph

So, what's the aspiring entrepreneur to do in this age of AI and automation? First, recognize that while AI tools can enhance productivity, they're not a substitute for business acumen. Second, focus on distribution: how will you reach your customers? How will you stand out in a crowded marketplace?

Try not to allow the events of the past to slip from your mind, as George Santayana so famously said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Let's not recreate the dot-com bubble or cry over the crypto siren. Rather, let's take AI-led business with the fervour of Unamuno and the discerning of Socrates, both recognizing the pros and cons.

Keep in mind, real success in online business is not about how soon you can produce but rather, about how effectively you can distribute. It's not about chasing trends; it's about creating lasting value. And most importantly, it's not about getting rich quick; it's about building a sustainable business that generates real income through solving real problems.

Help me find the most ridiculous tutorials

Are you tired of seeing misleading "get-rich-quick with AI" schemes? Let's create a "Wall of Awareness" to educate others about these deceptive practices. Share in the comments below examples of AI business tutorials or courses that promised unrealistic results. By collecting these stories, we can help to aspire entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes and focus on building genuine, sustainable businesses. Together, we can promote ethical entrepreneurship in the AI age.