TDC 067: 3-Part "RTR" AI Business Model Opportunity

The market is shifting beneath our feet and most people have no idea it's happening.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque reveals a massive shift taking place in the market right now that connects falling Meta ad costs, massive AI infrastructure deals, and the future of digital business.

You'll learn about six major market observations Ryan's been tracking, discover why paid media costs are finally coming back to earth, and uncover the three-part RTR AI business model opportunity that most entrepreneurs are completely missing.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Have you noticed any shifts in your market over the last few months? What are you seeing that others might be missing?

Key Take-aways

• Paid media costs on Meta are at their lowest levels in over a year for the first time in nearly two years
• Major AI infrastructure deals (300BOracle−OpenAI,300B Oracle-OpenAI, 300BOracle−OpenAI,100B NVIDIA-OpenAI) signal a fundamental market shift
• A three-part RTR AI business model opportunity exists for those who take action now
• Most entrepreneurs are unaware of this shift, creating a major competitive advantage
• Live town hall registration is capped at 300 attendees and expected to fill quickly

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 67
00:33 – Six major market observations taking shape
00:58 – Paid media costs finally coming back to earth
01:40 – Major AI infrastructure deals reshaping the landscape
02:25 – The market shift most people are missing
02:58 – Announcing live town hall event
03:25 – Three important registration details
04:05 – Keeping today's episode short

Links & Resources 🔗

• Issue #064 of The Digital Contrarian – "Surprising (Non-AI) Trend Taking Shape" → https://ryanlevesque.net/surprising-trend-taking-shape/
• $100 Billion OpenAI deal with NVIDIA → https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/24/nvidia-openai-investment-in-cash-mostly-used-to-lease-nvidia-chips.html
• Meta's 'Vibes' Short-Form Video Feed of AI Slop → https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/25/meta-launches-vibes-a-short-form-video-feed-of-ai-slop/

Connect & CTA 🎯

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Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque

© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 066: A Crazy Person's Guide to Living Life in an AI World

Each ChatGPT usage category reveals what humans are desperately craving in an AI-saturated world.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into OpenAI's first-ever ChatGPT usage study.

You'll learn how each AI usage category reveals human hunger for authentic connection, discover the "Return to Real" opportunity hiding within seven major verticals, and uncover why the world needs more heart, humor, and humanity and not more artificial intelligence.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of the seven wedges resonates most with YOUR life right now? Where are you craving more "real" and less "artificial"?

Key Take-aways

• Every AI usage category reveals where people are yearning for what's deeply human and authentic
• Personal writing (18%) shows hunger for genuine voice—opportunities in storytelling and book clubs
• Tutoring (10.2%) reveals desire for someone who sees you—think micro schools and apprenticeships
• Health/fitness (5.7%) shows craving to feel alive—outdoor adventure travel is fastest growing tourism
• The subtext of all AI usage: people want more time doing what's really meaningful and precious

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – A crazy person's guide to living in an AI world
01:16 – OpenAI's groundbreaking usage study revealed
02:30 – The overlooked angle everyone's missing
03:27 – Why each AI vertical reveals human hunger
04:08 – Wedge #1: Personal Writing (18%) - Heart, Humor, Humanity
04:50 – Wedge #2: Tutoring (10.2%) - Hands in the Dirt
05:06 – Wedge #3: How-To Advice (8.5%) - Going Analog
05:46 – Wedge #4: Health & Fitness (5.7%) - Best Things Don't Scale
06:17 – Wedge #5: Translation (4.5%) - Oxytocin Over Dopamine
07:03 – Wedge #6: Programming (4.2%) - Category of One
07:51 – Wedge #7: Products (2.1%) - Between Death and Danger
08:26 – The real subtext behind all AI usage
09:03 – Why I stay up past midnight beating this drum
09:42 – Your call to action: Bang your drum

Links & Resources 🔗

OpenAI ChatGPT Usage Study (NBER Working Paper) → https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w34255/w34255.pdf
The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 065:The AI Battle Brewing Beneath the Surface Plus 27 Vermont Farm Mastermind Takeaways

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into the $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement and its implications for content creators.

You'll learn why we may be exiting the "Napster era" of AI, discover the contrarian content strategy behind our first viral YouTube video, and explore 27 transformative insights from the Vermont Farm Mastermind Experience.

Question of the Day 🗣️

What's your biggest takeaway from the 27 Vermont insights? Which one could transform your business?

Key Take-aways

• The $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement signals a shift from the "Napster era" to the "Spotify era" of AI
• YouTube may be the next AI battleground as the last non-AI powered search engine
• Single source of truth content can generate viral breakthrough results (27K+ views in 18 weeks)
• Strategic content ecosystems outperform shallow algorithm gaming every time
• Vermont Farm Mastermind revealed 27 transformative business and life insights

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – The AI battle brewing beneath the surface
00:48 – $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement breakdown
02:15 – From Napster era to Spotify era of AI
03:40 – YouTube as the next AI battleground
04:30 – Town Hall announcement: October 2nd
05:35 – Unexpected YouTube breakthrough explained
06:35 – Vermont Farm Mastermind experience
07:25 – 27 takeaways from Maeve Ferguson's perspective

Links & Resources 🔗

• Issue #055 of The Digital Contrarian – "My Contrarian YouTube Strategy" → https://ryanlevesque.net/podcast/tdc-055-my-contrarian-youtube-strategy-building-a-strategic-content-ecosystem-part-2/
• Issue #031 of The Digital Contrarian – "Cultivating Influence vs. Chasing Attention" → https://ryanlevesque.net/cultivating-influence-vs-chasing-attention/
• Vermont Farm Mastermind Takeaways → https://maeveferguson.substack.com/p/27-takeaways-from-ryan-levesques
• Check if your videos were scraped → https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/09/youtube-ai-training-data-sets/684116/
• The Digital Contrarian newsletter → http://thedigitalcontrarian.com/

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.