The Rise of Curiosity Content (And Why It's Your Secret Weapon in 2026)
I just read something from Gary Vaynerchuk that stopped me in my tracks.
He said we’re no longer in the social graph. We’re in the interest graph.
And honestly, once you understand what that means, it changes everything about how you approach building an online income in 2026.
From Social Graph to Interest Graph
Gary wrote this in his recent piece on consumer trends:
“We’re now in the interest graph, not the social graph. We’re now in a place where I, Gary, could tomorrow make my first ever piece of content around surfing… and even though all my followers do not follow me for surfing, the way the AI algorithms now work is when I post about surfing... that content is going to reach people that are in a high propensity interest of surfboards.”
For years, algorithms prioritized showing you content from people you followed and pages similar to the ones you already connected with. Discovery happened through your social network. You found new creators because your friends followed them, or because the platform suggested pages similar to ones you liked.
Now? Algorithms prioritize showing you content based on topics and interests you engage with, regardless of whether you follow the creator.
The shift is from connection-based discovery to interest-based discovery.
So if you search “how to start a membership” or watch videos about building online income, the algorithm shows you content from anyone posting about those topics. You could have zero connection to them. They could have posted their very first video yesterday. The algorithm matches your interest to their content.
This changes everything about who can get discovered and how fast it can happen.
What This Means for AI-Assisted Income Building
The shift to the interest graph is particularly powerful if you’re building an AI-assisted income stream.
Gary talks about posting content on things you’re genuinely curious about, even random stuff, raw and unpolished. Someone posts a funny video about sunflower seeds and six months later gets a $5,000 brand deal. A golf instructor posts about porcupines, it goes viral, and people book golf lessons.
But here’s where this gets practical for those of us using AI to build income: you can document your actual process of figuring things out, and the algorithm will connect you with people searching for those exact solutions.
Post about what you’re learning as you set up your first AI-assisted service. Share what confused you when you tried to use ChatGPT to draft client deliverables. Show the pricing decisions you’re wrestling with as you launch a membership. Talk about the keyword research that actually worked.
Raw. Unpolished. Real.
That content gets discovered by other people typing those exact questions into search bars right now.
The biggest thing holding most people back isn’t skill. It’s the belief that you need to wait until you “know enough” to post. But curiosity content flips that completely.
How This Actually Works
Let me give you a concrete example.
Let’s say you’re a ministry leader and you want to build a recurring offer. You decide to launch a $15/month membership for church leaders that includes discussion guides, training sessions, and practical tools.
You’ve never done this before. You’re genuinely figuring it out as you go.
So you start posting content about your actual process:
“I used ChatGPT to draft 12 discussion questions in 10 minutes (and why I still reviewed every single one for theological accuracy)”
“I just set up my first recurring payment system and what confused me about it”
“Wrestling with this right now: how to price this without undervaluing my time or excluding people who genuinely need it”
That content gets discovered by other ministry leaders typing those exact questions into search bars right now. You’re documenting your curiosity, and that’s what makes you discoverable.
That content becomes your proof, your portfolio, and your lead generation all at once.
People see you actually building the thing. They watch you work through real problems in real time. And when they need help with the exact same thing, you’re the person they think of.
What Curiosity Content Looks Like in Practice
This approach works whether you’re building services, digital products, coaching offers, affiliate income, memberships, or using platform monetization like Facebook or the Amazon Influencer Program. The key is posting raw, authentic content about what you’re actually figuring out.
If you’re building AI-assisted services:
“I just used Wordstream to pull 20 keyword phrases for my niche. Turns out people are actually searching for solutions I can deliver.”
“Using ChatGPT to draft client deliverables while keeping my voice intact.”
If you’re building a digital product:
“Creating my first eBook in Canva and discovering what’s harder than I expected.”
“I thought I needed 100 pages. Turns out people just want clear answers to one specific problem.”
If you’re building a coaching offer:
“I just delivered my first beta coaching session. What I learned about what people actually need help with.”
“The intake process I’m testing to make sure I only work with aligned clients.”
If you’re doing affiliate marketing:
“I’ve been using Canva Pro for six months. What’s actually worth the upgrade and what’s not.”
“The keyword tool I use every single week and why it works better than the free alternatives.”
If you’re building a recurring offer:
“Launching a $29/month membership and structuring it so I don’t burn out.”
“What I’m including to make sure people actually stay month after month.”
If you’re doing platform monetization (like Facebook or the Amazon Influencer Program):
“I just uploaded my first three audition videos for the Amazon Influencer Program. What I learned about trust signals.”
“The mistake I made that almost got me declined (and how I fixed it).”
None of this requires expertise. Just curiosity, honesty, and willingness to share what you’re learning in real time.
Why This Works (And Why Most People Won’t Do It)
Curiosity content works because it’s authentic, specific, and matches what people are actively searching for.
When you document your process of building an AI-assisted income stream, you’re naturally using the language and keywords that other beginners are typing into search bars. You share what you’re figuring out, and that makes your content far more discoverable than polished, expert-level content that doesn’t match search intent.
Most people won’t do it because it feels vulnerable. It feels like you’re exposing yourself as a beginner. But that’s exactly why it works.
People don’t want to learn from someone who’s so far ahead they can’t remember what it was like to start. They want to learn from someone who’s two steps ahead and willing to show the process.
The Practical Path Forward
Pick one income path that matches your current life constraints (time, skills, audience size, and ethical boundaries). Services, digital products, coaching, affiliate marketing, memberships, or platform monetization like Facebook or the Amazon Influencer Program.
Start building it. Don’t wait until you’re ready. Just start.
Document what you’re learning. Post 3-5 pieces of content per week about your actual process. Raw and unpolished. Use the exact keywords people are searching for (TikTok Search and Wordstream are your best friends here).
Let the algorithm surface your content to people searching for the same solutions you’re figuring out.
Turn engagement into income. When people DM you, reply. When they ask questions, answer them. When they want to buy, let them.
That’s it.
A complicated funnel won’t help you. Thousands of followers won’t either. Pick a path, start building, and document what you’re learning. The interest graph will do the rest.
Your First Step
If you’re not sure which income path fits your life right now, I built something to help.
The AI Monetization Map breaks down seven realistic ways to make money online using AI assistance (services, digital products, coaching, affiliate marketing, memberships, platform monetization like Facebook or the Amazon Influencer Program, and productized offers). It shows you the decision matrix to pick your best fit in 10 minutes, and gives you the exact 30-day plan to move from ideas to first revenue. Practical, grounded, and designed for real people with real constraints.
Download the AI Monetization Map here and figure out your starting point today.
And if you want the full framework for what to learn, what to document, and how to turn curiosity content into actual income without compromising your integrity, the AI Revolution Secrets training walks you through the exact system I use.
Waiting until you’re an expert isn’t required. Being curious enough to begin is.
I highly recommend reading Gary’s full article on curiosity content here. He goes deeper into the rise of random content monetization and why posting about your genuine interests (even the weird ones) creates unexpected opportunities.
You’re early to this new online shift. Take advantage of it!