Is AI Actually Making It Easier to Get Rich?

I’ve been thinking a lot about the current hype cycle regarding AI productivity. We keep hearing the same narrative: "AI is lowering the barrier to entry for everything." And honestly, it's true. Whether it's coding, graphic design, or writing, the technical floor has been dropped significantly. You can now do things in seconds that used to take hours of specialized training.

But here is the reality check: while AI has lowered the barrier to doing things, it hasn't necessarily lowered the barrier to making money.

In fact, it feels like the opposite is happening in some ways. The "barrier to profit" remains incredibly high. Because everyone now has access to these powerful tools, the market is becoming saturated with "good enough" content and mediocre outputs. To actually stand out and capture value, you now need even more strategic thinking and higher-level execution.

Plus, there’s the hidden cost. While the software might be accessible, the "AI tax" is real. Between high-tier subscriptions, API costs for scaling, and the massive compute power required for serious projects, running an AI-driven workflow can actually be more expensive than traditional methods if you aren't careful.

We are moving from an era of "technical skill scarcity" to an era of "strategic differentiation scarcity." It's easier to create, but harder to compete. What do you guys think? Are you finding AI to be a cost-saver or a new expense?