[Lecture] ChatGPT and Generative AI bring new business models | Editor: Ma Wensheng
🤖 ChatGPT and Generative AI bring new business models
👋 Hello fellow entrepreneurs! Today, I'd like to discuss why generative AI (think ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.) has been so exciting in the global startup world in recent years 🔥 and has directly spawned a host of new business models.
In the past, starting a business often required a combination of technology, funding, and staff. But now, with generative AI, small teams or even solo founders can launch a new product incredibly quickly.
1️⃣ SaaS + AI: Upgrading the traditional model🚀
In the past, SaaS (Software as a Service) mainly provided cloud tools such as project management and CRM.
Many startups now integrate generative AI into SaaS, turning it into AI-enhanced SaaS .
📌 Example:
- Notion AI : Originally a note-taking software, after adding AI, it can automatically help you summarize and generate content, instantly upgrading the value of the product.
- Canva AI : It uses AI to generate images and text, allowing users to not only design but also create images in seconds.
💡 Business model: Collect subscriptions, then use AI capabilities to differentiate and attract customers to upgrade to higher plans.
2️⃣ AI-as-a-Service: AI as a Service☁️
Startups don’t have to train their own models; they can use the API directly.
For example:
- OpenAI provides GPT API
- Anthropic provides Claude API
- Google offers the Gemini API
As long as entrepreneurs package it into a solution, it can become a new product.
📌 Hong Kong scenario example:
- LegalTech startup: Uses GPT API to help users generate contract drafts.
- FinTech startup: Using AI to help users analyze investment reports.
💡 Business model: API usage fees + SaaS subscription , which means you can launch an AI product with a low threshold.
3️⃣ Personalized service: super personal experience🎯
The biggest advantage of generative AI is personalization .
📌 Example:
- Education : AI tutors can generate customized exercises based on students’ level.
- E-commerce : AI helps customers generate exclusive shopping recommendations and even draft “shopping wish lists” for them.
- Healthcare : AI chatbot helps patients answer health questions (not professional diagnosis, but can provide preliminary triage).
💡 Business model: charge a subscription fee, or even B2B2C (companies buy AI services and then provide them to customers).
4️⃣ Content production automation 🎬
In the past, to create content, we formed a team: copywriter, designer, and video editor.
Today, generative AI can:
- ChatGPT helps you write articles/advertisement copy
- MidJourney helps you create posters/product images
- Runway helps you generate videos
📌 Example: A small online store in Hong Kong can run a marketing campaign using AI by one person.
💡 Business Model:
- Subscription-based platforms (e.g., Canva Pro, Runway)
- Agency services (Agencies use AI to help clients create content, outperforming traditional advertising agencies)
5️⃣ New creative industry🎨
Generative AI has also spawned a whole new market:
- AI Artwork Trading (NFT + AI Artwork )
- AI music creation (helping brands create short music)
- AI novel/game script (automatically generated plot)
💡 Business model: directly selling content, collecting membership fees, and even doing licensing.
6️⃣ Hyperlocal AI applications🏙️
Hong Kong entrepreneurs actually have many landing opportunities:
- Catering industry : AI helps cafés come up with menu copy and even design new dish ideas.
- Real Estate : AI chatbot helps real estate agents answer property inquiries.
- Tourism : AI helps tourists generate itineraries and can also provide instant translation.
💡 Business model: B2B solutions, charging monthly fees, helping traditional industries transform digitally.
7️⃣ AI + Platform Economy 🌐
There is a general direction, which is "AI tool platformization."
For example:
- Shopify adds AI to help merchants automatically write product descriptions
- LinkedIn adds AI to help users write CVs and cover letters
- Microsoft 365 Copilot: Automatically generate reports for your business
💡Business model: Based on the original platform, add "AI premium function" and charge higher subscription.
😎 Editor’s Summary
Generative AI is more than just a "tech trend"; it has already changed the rules of the game in many industries :
- Lower the threshold for entrepreneurship : anyone can launch MVP.
- Accelerate product iteration : AI helps you quickly test market reactions.
- Create new revenue models : subscription, API usage, licensing, and content production services.
For Hong Kong startups, this is truly a golden opportunity . Previously, a team of 5-10 people would have been needed to accomplish this. Now, one person and a few AI tools can do it.
👀 Editor's take:
- Short term : At most, it helps you save money and produce products faster.
- Medium term : Many "AI-enhanced startups" will emerge, directly challenging traditional large companies.
- Long term : Generative AI will become infrastructure, just like the Internet did back then. Without it, you will be a few steps behind others .
📊 2025 Hong Kong New AI Business Model Case Study
🛍️ Retail & E-commerce
Application Scenario
- AI automatically generates product descriptions (in Chinese and English)
- AI customer service chatbot responds to inquiries 24/7
- AI recommendation system, recommending products based on customer behavior
Business Model
- B2C online stores : Using AI to reduce labor costs and focus on sales
- B2B SaaS : Provides "AI e-commerce assistant" monthly fee service to other merchants
🎓 Education & Training
Application Scenario
- AI tutor: Generates customized exercises based on student level
- AI Grading: Automatically grading multiple-choice questions and essay drafts
- AI course design: helping teachers quickly organize teaching materials
Business Model
- Subscription platform : Students pay a monthly fee and practice with AI
- B2B model : Providing AI teaching tools to tutoring centers and education centers
💰 Finance & Insurance (FinTech / InsurTech)
Application Scenario
- AI analyzes investment reports and generates summaries
- AI chat assistant, answering insurance terms/financial management questions
- AI detects suspicious transactions and reduces risks
Business Model
- B2C APP : AI financial advisor, charging subscription fee
- B2B solution : Financial institutions buy outright or rent AI systems for a monthly fee
🍽️ Food & Beverage Industry
Application Scenario
- AI helps restaurants design new menus and write promotional copy
- AI chatbots help customers make reservations/delivery
- AI analyzes POS data and recommends the best dish combinations
Business Model
- B2C : Restaurants use AI to automate marketing, saving manpower
- B2B : SaaS platform provides "catering AI assistant" service
🏠 Real Estate & Tourism
Application Scenario
- AI helps real estate agents generate property descriptions and automatically respond to customer inquiries
- AI helps travel companies generate personalized itineraries
- AI translation assistant, convenient for receiving overseas customers
Business Model
- Boosting commissions : Real estate agents use AI to improve closing rates
- Travel agency AI platform : charges a monthly fee and provides AI itinerary planning tools
🏥 Medical & Health
Application Scenario
- AI Chatbot helps patients answer general health questions (non-diagnostic)
- AI assists doctors in organizing cases and generating reports
- AI health app: Provides diet/exercise recommendations based on user data
Business Model
- B2C health app : Subscription-based
- B2B healthcare SaaS : Clinics/hospitals pay for AI-assisted tools
😎 Editor’s Summary
Hong Kong's emerging AI business models in 2025 will broadly follow three major directions:
- Save manpower and reduce costs : AI helps startups do their own work (such as customer service, copywriting, and data analysis).
- Transform products into services : Package AI into SaaS tools and collect subscriptions.
- Industrial Upgrading + B2B : Help traditional industries (catering, real estate, education) to achieve digital transformation and use AI to improve efficiency.
For Hong Kong entrepreneurs, the biggest advantage is its small but concentrated market , making it easier to experiment and iterate quickly. If they develop a workable model and then scale it to the Asian market, the opportunities are enormous.
