Software engineer Gudong admits he hasn't made money with AI; he's spent about 600 yuan on tools like Trae, Claude Code, and DeepSeek. He details monthly subscriptions and API fees, noting ByteDance employees get Trae for free. Instead of profits, he values the creative rush and technical growth these investments provide.

Gudong frames these expenses like paying for a sport or game—an investment in enjoyment and mental assets. He argues the question 'did I make money?' is flawed, carrying naked utilitarianism. For him, the value lies in the process: creating, sharing, and expanding his coding boundaries without expecting a direct financial return.

The developer believes this moment of AI access belongs to everyone, not just coders. He encourages diving in to reap non-monetary rewards, comparing it to hobbies like painting. Ultimately, Gudong views spending on AI as buying happiness and a different life experience, prioritizing participation and discovery over immediate profit.