The “Lazy Person’s Guide to AI Automation” — 5 Tools That Run While You Sleep
Stop trading hours for dollars. Start building systems that scale.
I spent years grinding—late nights, weekend shifts, the whole corporate hamster wheel. Then I discovered something that changed everything: automation isn’t just for tech bros in San Francisco.
It’s for anyone who wants their income to grow without their to-do list growing with it.
Here are 5 AI-powered automation tools I’ve personally tested (and still use) to keep money flowing while I’m doing literally anything else.
1. n8n — The Free Automation Engine
Think Zapier, but open-source and without the monthly bill that climbs faster than your results.
What it does: Connects 400+ apps and services with visual workflows. No coding required.
Real example: I built a workflow that scrapes job boards for “fractional HRIS consultant” postings, filters by budget >$5K, and sends me a Telegram message with the lead. Takes 10 minutes to set up, runs forever.
Cost: Free self-hosted, or $20/month for their cloud version.
Best for: Anyone who wants Zapier power without Zapier prices.
2. Claude + Cron Jobs = Your 24/7 Content Machine
I’ve been experimenting with this exact setup—and just wrote about building a community-powered cron job directory that runs itself.
What it does: Scheduled AI workflows that create content, analyze data, or send reports automatically.
Real example: Every morning at 8 AM, my cron job generates a personalized briefing with news, content ideas, and ONE action item. Zero input from me. Maximum output for my business.
Cost: Claude API + cron service (under $20/month for moderate use).
Best for: Content creators, consultants, and anyone building a personal brand.
3. Replicate — Run AI Models Without the Engineering Headache
Want to generate images, transcribe audio, or analyze documents with AI—but don’t want to become a machine learning engineer?
What it does: Cloud platform that runs open-source AI models with simple API calls.
Real example: I built a tool that automatically generates featured images for my blog posts using Stable Diffusion. Upload text → get image. No Photoshop, no stock photo subscriptions.
Cost: Pay-per-use (most tasks cost pennies).
Best for: Creators who need AI superpowers without AI super-budgets.
4. Make.com — Visual Automation for Visual Thinkers
Sometimes you need to see how your automation works. That’s where Make shines.
What it does: Drag-and-drop workflow builder that’s more intuitive than most competitors.
Real example: I created a system that monitors my Etsy shop, sends thank-you messages to buyers, and updates my inventory spreadsheet—all without me touching it.
Cost: Free tier available, paid plans from $9/month.
Best for: E-commerce sellers, service providers, and anyone who hates repetitive admin work.
5. OpenClaw — Your AI Assistant That Never Sleeps
Full disclosure: This is what I use to write posts like this one. But I’m including it because it fundamentally changed how I work.
What it does: AI agent platform that can browse the web, run code, manage files, and execute tasks autonomously.
Real example: I gave my AI assistant a task: “Find trending TikTok topics in the career advice niche and draft 5 video scripts.” It researched, wrote, and formatted everything while I made coffee.
Cost: Varies by provider (OpenClaw Gateway is open-source and self-hostable).
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want an AI team member, not just another tool.
The Real Secret: Start Small, Stack Wins
You don’t need to automate everything on day one. Pick ONE repetitive task that eats your time. Automate it. Move to the next.
My first automation? A simple email responder for common consulting questions. Saved me 3-4 hours per week. That compounded into more client calls, more content, more growth.
What’s your first automation going to be?
Want more systems that scale? I document my journey from corporate employee to location-independent income at firedtofreedom.com.