Hello,
I have to say that AI has the potential to be extremely helpful. As with almost anything, it can be used to do good, or evil. Unfortunately, many new products using AI are popping up very quickly, and disappearing even quicker. Or they just stop working because the built in API key ran out of credits leaving you and me with an app we can still log in to, but totally stopped working and is now worthless.
Before I caught on to what was (and still is) happening, I bought resale rights to a couple of them and yes, even sold a few access to them at a deep discount thinking I was doing a good thing. Then reality set in. Thankfully, as far as I know nobody got mad at me, but I do still feel bad. I know better now, and won't even think about buying anything without doing my homework first at my custom Perplexity space. There I can do deep research to uncover details you won't find in the reviews or sales pages. I am sharing it with you so that you can too. Perplexity allows you to do 5 pro uses per day free. Limited, yes but keep reading and it will come to light why very soon.
When it comes to Artificial Intelligence , if you can not bring your own API key(s) and it's a one time fee you can be certain that app will not remain working very long. I don't know one single exception to that. API cost add up fast and if there isn't some type of pay as you go the costs will become too much sooner or later. Most of the time it's sooner. That is why most well known AI apps like Jasper or HeyGen (for examples) charge monthly. They are easy to use, and you don't have to configure API keys or learn anything like that. BUT.... it is a monthly fee. The good think is, you know they are going to be there. Your work won't suddenly disappear with the up front money you paid.
The other option that I prefer and has really caught on is the freemium model such as Perplexity AI uses. You get to use it a little bit for free, but you must pay if you are going to use it a lot. This is my favorite business model. It's a try before you commit money model that allows you have some kind of idea IF the app is worth paying for.
I recently discovered Replit. I'll talk more about this later, and give you the short story for now. I been learning how to use it for the last couple few weeks. The costs do add up quickly so I can't really say it's cheap. But, it allows opportunity that didn't exist before. It allows me (and almost anyone) to turn ideas into apps or games. They can be AI powered, but do not have to be. For instance I had looked long and hard something that would design professional looking video thumbnails really quick. I found plenty of options to use for good results but always struck out on the "really quick" part. Replit changed that.
With no real knowledge of coding, I was still able to create the perfect solution. I decided to call it Image Magic. It also allowed me to implement what I think is the best business model. It's both Freemium and pay as you go. Here is how it works! Anyone can try my new Image magic app free and generate 25 images absolutely free. Then if you like the app you can buy 50 more credits ( 1 credit = I image generation) for just 5 bucks. Larger packages also available and offer lower cost per image. Here is what I think is the best part, you only pay for what you are going to use and can buy more as needed. No monthly fees and purchased credits do not expire. I couldn't think of a more fair way to do it. And no need to obtain your own API key, so you can use it straight away.
I will write more about this and other apps I develop later. Feel free to contact me with any questions or anything at all. I hope you will try Image Magic and would love to hear your feedback. That's it for now.
Pat
