Why AI Courses Cost So Much (And Don't Need To)

I spent $2,000 on an AI course during the pandemic.

It promised to "unlock the future of business automation" and "give me an unfair advantage." What I got was 80% hype, 20% outdated tool demos, and a Discord server full of people who also felt scammed but were too embarrassed to admit it.

Here's the thing: I learned a lot from that course. Just not what the instructor intended.

I learned that the AI education industry is built on artificial scarcity. That "gurus" are charging four figures to read you documentation that companies like OpenAI literally give away for free. That most courses are just repackaged blog posts with a countdown timer and a fake "5 spots left" banner.

And I learned that if I ever taught this stuff, I'd do it differently.

The AI Course Scam, Explained

AI tools are designed to be easy to use. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google—they've spent billions of dollars ensuring that you don't need a PhD to use their products. ChatGPT has a text box. You type. It responds. That's the interface.

So why are people charging $2,000+ to teach you how to use it? Because they can. Because AI feels intimidating. Because FOMO is a hell of a drug. Because if you wrap basic information in enough jargon and urgency, people will pay.

Most expensive AI courses follow the same playbook:

1. Hype up the stakes. "AI will replace you if you don't act NOW."

2. Show flashy results. "I made $10k in a week using this ONE prompt!"

3. Gatekeep the 'secrets.' "This is only for serious entrepreneurs."

4. Charge $1,997. (Why $1,997? Because it feels less than $2,000.)

The actual content? Usually:

• A walkthrough of ChatGPT/Claude/Midjourney (available on YouTube for free)

• 50 "magic prompts" (that stop working in 3 months)

• A template library (that you'll never use)

• Lifetime access to a community (that goes dead in 6 weeks)

What AI Education Should Actually Be

Here's what I wish that $2,000 course had taught me:

• When NOT to use AI. (Most courses skip this entirely.)

• How to think about AI as a tool, not a religion. (It's not going to solve all your problems.)

• Frameworks that don't break when the tools update. (Prompts are tactics. Thinking is strategy.)

• Real use cases from someone who's actually using it. (Not someone who teaches courses for a living.)

I'm a video creator and small business owner. I've built automation systems while raising a newborn. I've spent five years in contemplative practice figuring out how to use technology without letting it use me.

I don't have a Lamborghini. I don't have a course about courses. I just have a framework that works, and I'm tired of watching people get ripped off.

So I Built This

cheapaiclasses.com (http://cheapaiclasses.com/) costs $99 because that's what it's worth. No fake scarcity. No income promises. No countdown timers.

You're paying for:

• Structure (so you don't drown in YouTube tutorials)

• Frameworks (that work regardless of which AI tool is trending)

• Honest guidance (including when to put the AI down and think for yourself)

If you want implementation support or 1-on-1 help, there are higher tiers. But the core knowledge? $99. That's it.

The Real Cost of Expensive Courses

The $2,000 I spent wasn't just money. It was trust. I believed someone when they said they had answers. I believed that the price tag meant quality. I believed that if I just bought this one thing, I'd finally "get it."

The course didn't deliver. But the lesson did. AI education should be accessible. The tools are free or cheap. The information is abundant. What people need is structure, honesty, and someone who's actually done the work.

So that's what I built.

If you're tired of gurus and gatekeeping, this is for you (https://cheapaiclasses.com/).