Which Businesses Did ChatGPT Kill?

When ChatGPT appeared in late 2022, many thought it would be just another productivity tool. Instead, it became a tidal wave—reshaping industries, forcing startups to pivot, and in some cases, making entire business models obsolete. Let’s walk through a few types of businesses that struggled in its wake, with examples and prompts that replaced them.

1. Copywriting Agencies

Type: Creative service startups
Example: Small agencies offering blog writing, ad copy, or product descriptions.
What happened: Many clients realized they could get 80% of the quality in 20% of the time with a single ChatGPT prompt.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Write a persuasive product description for eco-friendly yoga mats in a friendly yet professional tone. Include bullet points for features and a short CTA.”

2. Homework and Essay Mills

Type: Academic ghostwriting services
Example: Startups that wrote assignments or term papers for students.
What happened: Students bypassed middlemen and asked ChatGPT directly. Universities started scrambling to detect AI-written work.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Write a 1,000-word essay comparing Plato’s concept of justice with Rawls’ theory. Provide references in APA style.”

3. Translation Startups

Type: Language service platforms
Example: Niche startups offering affordable human translation for short documents.
What happened: ChatGPT’s multilingual abilities, mixed with free tools like DeepL, made simple translations nearly free.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Translate this customer email from Spanish to English, keeping a professional but friendly tone.”

4. Social Media Content Calendars

Type: SaaS scheduling tools with pre-written templates
Example: Apps that promised “365 days of captions” or “plug-and-play Instagram content.”
What happened: ChatGPT became the on-demand content generator, giving custom captions and ideas instantly.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Give me 15 Instagram post ideas for a handmade jewelry brand, with captions and suggested hashtags.”

5. Resume & Cover Letter Services

Type: Career service startups
Example: Online platforms charging $100+ for polished resumes.
What happened: With ChatGPT, job seekers could instantly tailor their CVs and cover letters for every application.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Rewrite my resume for a Product Manager role at Google. Highlight leadership, analytics, and AI experience.”

6. Idea Marketplaces

Type: Startups selling business ideas or micro-startup kits
Example: “Buy a startup idea for $29” websites.
What happened: Entrepreneurs realized ChatGPT could generate hundreds of validated business ideas in minutes.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Give me 20 SaaS startup ideas in the fitness industry that require low initial capital and can scale globally.”

7. Simple Chatbot Builders

Type: SaaS chatbot startups
Example: Drag-and-drop customer service bots that answered FAQs.
What happened: ChatGPT itself became the better chatbot—cheaper, smarter, more natural.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Act as a support agent for my Shopify store selling sneakers. Answer FAQs about shipping, returns, and sizing.”

8. Content Spinners & SEO Text Tools

Type: Low-tier SEO startups
Example: Services selling spun content for backlinks.
What happened: ChatGPT could generate unique, coherent articles instantly—making old spinners look primitive.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Write a 1,500-word SEO article about ‘Best Budget Laptops 2025’ optimized for the keyword. Include subheadings and a buyer’s guide.”

9. Logo & Tagline Generators

Type: Micro-SaaS creative tools
Example: Sites selling $5 taglines or automated slogans.
What happened: ChatGPT started spitting out 50 tagline options in seconds.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Suggest 10 catchy slogans for a vegan protein powder startup targeting athletes.”

10. Micro-Consulting Platforms

Type: Market research / advice marketplaces
Example: “Pay $20 to ask an expert one question.”
What happened: ChatGPT became the always-on consultant—cheaper, faster, and surprisingly insightful.
Prompt that replaced them:
“Act as a startup mentor. I want to launch an app for freelancers in Dubai. What’s my MVP roadmap?”

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT didn’t just kill businesses—it forced them to evolve. The winners weren’t those who fought the tide, but those who surfed it. Agencies now use ChatGPT to scale output. Resume services bundle AI with human coaching. Social media tools integrate AI content generation instead of resisting it.

The lesson? When AI eats your business model, you can either complain—or you can build the next thing on top of it.