We spent a year playing (lets just call it R & D) with AI. And then, in late 2023, we started using it in anger for clients. In essence, we started selling the output that our trained models produced. The first thing that struck us was the huge (maybe 10x) cost savings we saw.
As we learned to guide the output better, the second thing we discovered was the quality of the output exceeded that of a skilled marketer. A kind of bottled experience with super-intelligence. A second brain that distills the knowledge from many into a single, easy to use output.
So, here is the quandary; how the hell do we sell our new found quality AND quantity. It’s a rare technology leap that provides both benefits at such a scale and so cheap – often we find the bottleneck is the speed at which clients are able to adopt and deploy our newly-found turbo-charged mode of operation.
It’s like inventing a 30 seater bus that can travel at 1,000 miles per hour vs a car of four people at 70 mph. The world, as a whole, is not ready for this quantum leap. And, we really haven’t nailed down how we monetise what is such a huge competitive advantage.
We could reduce our cost and prices to reflect the efficiency gains but that feels like a lost opportunity. Conversely, we could increase our prices whilst reducing our costs and jack-up our profit to the moon. But what are the other opportunities?
And, lets be clear, we are not talking about general knowledge on vanilla GPT, we are talking about the skilled training of custom GPTs, tailored to the needs of specific clients and markets.
So, monetising a custom trained GPT like the ones we create at Connected UK (where innovation meets cheeky charm!), could be an exhilarating adventure! In a world where Sam Altman suggests that we will see a $1bn single-person company this decade, suddenly the limits of 9 to 5 staffer resource deployment is dying and 24×7 self-optimising AI “bots” will take over huge areas of the agency workspace.
Some ideas…
Subscription Models: Think of it as the gym membership everyone actually uses. Clients could pay a monthly fee to access custom GPTs, with different tiers depending on usage, support, and features. It’s simple, predictable, and keeps the cash flowing smoother than a pint of ale on a Friday night.
Pay-Per-Use Services: Ideal for businesses that don’t want to commit to a subscription. They can pay based on the queries they run or the projects they execute using our GPT. It’s like a taxi meter, but you don’t have to awkwardly chat about the weather.
Enhanced Customer Support: Using GPTs to power a supercharged customer support system could be a game changer, especially in fields like private healthcare where timely and accurate information can make a big difference. Charge for premium support services that utilize the GPT’s capabilities. We already do a little of this now.
Tailored Solutions for Specific Industries: Since Connected UK has a knack for private healthcare, we have developed custom GPT solutions tailored to this sector. Perhaps we should offer it as a packaged solution that can be integrated into client workflows, adding value and justifying a premium price. Or auction it to the highest bidder?
Training and Consultations: Offer expertise on not just using the GPT, but also training and tweaking it to suit specific needs. It’s like teaching someone to fish, but you’re also providing the fishing rod, the bait, and a stylish hat.
Business re-engineering: Every business will adopt AI in the near-future, or die. In many cases this will involve re-thinking and re-working core processes. They will need a hand, maybe at £500+ an hour. The demand will greatly exceed supply for the foreseeable future so in a world powered by a people-AI axis the need is great so the price is going to be high.
Alternatively, we have a window whereby we can use AI at scale to provide better versions of our existing services. At a far higher profit margin.
Selling the output of custom-trained GPTs is like bottling genius—it’s definitely doable and can be extremely profitable as we have seen in the last 6 months or so. Think of it as crafting artisanal digital content, bespoke to the nines. Here’s how we could spin this idea:
Content Creation: This is the bread and butter. Generate articles, blogs, reports, or even poetry that clients can purchase directly. Perfect for businesses that need high-quality content but lack the manpower to churn it out. It’s like having a ghostwriter, but you don’t have to provide coffee or a desk.
Data Analysis Reports: If the GPT is trained on specific datasets, we could sell insightful analysis or research reports. It’s like a detective uncovering the secrets hidden within data, but without the dramatic trench coat.
Educational Materials: Customised learning aids, tutorials, or courses could be created and sold to institutions or businesses looking to upscale their employees. It’s like being a professor, but you never have to worry about chalk dust.
Custom Tools and Applications: Develop and sell apps or tools that run on the GPT’s output, providing specific solutions for industries like private healthcare. It’s a bit like inventing a new surgical tool that no surgeon knew they needed.
The world is definitely changed. We just need to decide how we monetise it. In reality, we’ll likely do all of the above. I’d love to revisit this post in a year’s time, just to see how we went – but, no matter what we do, we’ll be at the forefront of building a new world and it will be profitable. Very profitable.
