Don't go broke learning AI!
Someone recently asked a great question many of us are thinking about: "Is anyone else worried about going broke on AI software?" The truth is, yes – those monthly subscriptions can add up fast. ChatGPT Plus. Canva. Midjourney. AI music generators. Voice tools. Before you know it, you’re looking at $100-$200+ per month on AI tools. But here’s the good news: you have more options (and tricks) to save money than you might realize. Let’s break down some nuggets of wisdom to keep your AI learning journey effective and affordable. Hidden Freebies and Low-Cost Alternatives You don't need to pay for everything. There are plenty of free or cheaper alternatives for many AI tools. I always advise people to start with free options and only pay when you truly need the upgrade. Some examples: - Bing Chat with GPT-4: Free at https://www.bing.com/chat if you use Microsoft Edge. You get GPT-4 level results without paying for ChatGPT Plus. - OpenRouter: https://openrouter.ai gives you access to multiple open-source and proprietary AI models. Some are free or cheaper than ChatGPT. - HuggingFace: https://huggingface.co has tons of free AI demos for text, image, audio, and more. - Google Colab: https://colab.research.google.com lets you run open-source AI models like Stable Diffusion without paying (just use the free tier). - Canva Free Plan: https://www.canva.com is packed with features even without Pro. Many people don’t need to upgrade right away. - ElevenLabs Free Tier: https://www.elevenlabs.io gives you 10,000 characters per month for voice synthesis – plenty to start. - Suno AI (music generator): https://suno.com lets you generate free music tracks. Bottom line: There are usually free ways to accomplish what a paid tool does. Maybe not as fast or polished, but good enough to start. Always ask yourself: “Could I do this with a free tool or a one-time purchase instead of a subscription?”