I’m old enough to remember when backup cameras first appeared in cars. I was riding in a friend’s new car, and when he used the backup camera, I found it downright scary! My initial thought was, “I’ll never use one of those things. What if it’s wrong? And what’s so hard about turning your neck?”

Now, at least a decade later,I found myself on vacation in the islands driving an older car with no backup camera. I could barely manage it. Whoa! Turning my head to back up felt so strange and awkward.

It struck me — some of the people I work with have a similar reaction to using AI (Artificial Intelligence) that I had to using a backup camera. They say, “Why would I use it? I don’t see what’s so great about it.”

The more I use AI, the more I realize just how many ways it can be helpful. Here are a few examples of how I incorporate AI into my work and personal life, and I’d love to hear how you’re using it!

Workplace & Business

I was recently developing a program for a group and knew the exercise I wanted to use, but I couldn’t remember the name of it. After searching through my notes without luck, I decided to describe the exercise to AI: It’s a team-building activity that’s fun and active. It demonstrates the importance of working together and communicating. It involves standing in a line and raising a stick.

Within moments, AI knew the name of the exercise, the guidelines, and even suggested questions for the debrief! It is called the Helium Stick. Once I had the name, I could locate my notes and merge them with AI’s suggestions. Of course, AI didn’t know where I’d left my physical files, but fortunately they were in alphabetical order!

I also use AI to help reword sentences that are unclear or too wordy, improving clarity in my writing.

In my volunteer role as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, AI is incredibly helpful for suggesting activities and lesson plans. Last week, I asked it to list words that sound the same but have different meanings. AI reminded me they are called homophones, and look at this list it generated!

1. Bare (without covering) vs. Bear (the animal or to endure)
2. Brake (to stop) vs. Break (to fracture or pause)
3. Cite (to reference) vs. Site (a location) vs. Sight (vision)
4. Capital (city or money) vs. Capitol (building where government meets)
5. Complement (something that completes) vs. Compliment (a nice remark)
6. Die (to pass away) vs. Dye (a substance for coloring)
7. Flee (to run away) vs. Flea (a small parasitic insect)
8. Hair (on your head) vs. Hare (a type of rabbit)
9. Hear (to listen) vs. Here (in this place)
10. Knight (a person of noble rank) vs. Night (the opposite of day)
11. Mail (postal service or letters) vs. Male (gender)
12. Morning (part of the day) vs. Mourning (grieving)
13. Principal (head of a school or main idea) vs. Principle (a fundamental belief)
14. Steal (to take without permission) vs. Steel (a metal)
15. Their (possessive form of “they”) vs. There (in that place) vs. They’re (contraction of “they are”)

Home Life

Of course, if AI is good for the workplace, it’s good for home life as well. Recently, I asked AI to help me plan a trip, and it suggested “hidden gems” and created an itinerary. While I’m not so sure these gems are still hidden now that everyone can ask the same question, the suggestions were great.

And when I’m too tired to grocery shop at the end of the week, I use AI to suggest recipes based on the random ingredients I have left in the fridge. It’s impressively fast! I made a delicious spinach and chicken dish recently thanks to AI’s recommendations.

How are you using AI in your work and personal life?