Passive income: YES

Starting an AI landscaping estimator and design service can potentially lead to passive income once set up correctly. The setup costs range from $500 to $1000, primarily for acquiring the necessary software and tools. To make this side hustle passive, you would need to invest time upfront in developing automated systems for estimating and designing landscapes. While some individuals have reported achieving passive income in 6 to 12 months through Reddit and other forums, it tends to be more common for only a few outliers to reach this level. Those who are able to scale effectively, outsource tasks, and continuously improve their AI algorithms are more likely to achieve passive income. However, it's essential to note that not everyone will reach a fully passive income stage as it requires ongoing maintenance and optimization. Misleading expectations often include underestimating the initial setup time and overestimating the ease of achieving passive income.