Anyone Can Use AI to Make Life Easier – Here are Five Examples
A tip for everyone

We, like most others, are concerned about the exponential growth of artificial intelligence (AI). But no matter how we feel about it, it’s here to stay and it’s going to become more and more part of our daily lives.

But it’s not all Grim Reaper stuff. AI can do many things to make your life easier, even if you’re not technically inclined and even if you have no idea how AI works. Don’t fear it, don’t fight it – use it!

Today we’re going to show you five ways you can use AI to make your life easier and maybe even better. 

Our current AI of choice is Google’s Gemini, but you can use ChatGPT or Copilot on any of the many other AI “chatbots” floating around out there.

Search Smarter

Rather than wade through pages and pages of search results (and ads) trying to find what you’re looking for, try using AI for searching. If you have a Google account try using https://gemini.google.com/ to search. If you don’t have a Google account try using Windows Copilot or ChatGPT. You’ll most likely find what you’re looking for without having to sift through pages of results and ads.

For instance, I wanted to know the difference between twilight, civil twilight, and nautical twilight. Rather than googling it, I asked Gemini to explain the differences. I got the answer without sifting through pages of results.

Twilight is the period between sunrise and sunset, or sunset and sunrise when the sun is below the horizon but the sky is still illuminated. However, there are different degrees of twilight depending on how far below the horizon the sun is. Here’s a breakdown of the three main types:

Astronomical Twilight: (Faintest – Needs Darkness Adapted Eyes)

Sun is between 18 and 30 degrees below the horizon.
Faintest twilight, only the brightest stars and planets are visible.
Naked eye cannot distinguish between day and night.
Useful for astronomers observing very faint objects.

Nautical Twilight: (Dim – Requires Some Artificial Light)

Sun is between 6 and 12 degrees below the horizon.
Horizon is still visible, but faint.
Brighter stars and planets become visible.
Artificial light may be required for some outdoor activities.
Historically important for sailors using stars for navigation.

Civil Twilight: (Brightest – Outdoor Activities Possible)

Sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon.
Horizon is clearly visible.
The sky is still bright, with some residual colors from sunrise or sunset.
Outdoor activities are still possible without needing artificial light.
Most people associate “twilight” with this phase.

Here’s an analogy to visualize the difference: Think of the sun as a light bulb in a room.

Astronomical Twilight: The light bulb is off, but there’s a faint glow from sunlight creeping in through a window (requires dark adaptation to see anything).
Nautical Twilight: The light bulb is very dim, but you can still make out the shape of the room and larger furniture.
Civil Twilight: The light bulb is on a low setting, the room is clearly visible, but it’s not brightly lit.

Find shows and movies to watch

Stuck in “what to watch?” purgatory? AI on streaming services recommends shows and movies based on your past choices, keeping you entertained for hours. For instance, I really like film noir, so when I asked Gemini to give me some suggestions for movies to watch it suggested these:

The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Double Indemnity (1944)
The Third Man (1949)
Touch of Evil (1958)
Sunset Boulevard (1950)

I’ve seen the first three but not the last two. Plus, if I asked for more than these, I would get several more. I’m off to watch Double Indemnity

Looking for new recipes? AI can be your best friend.

If you’re looking for a new recipe or just want to see what kinds of meals you can make with what you have on hand. AI can help. I was looking for an easy and simple Cole Slaw recipe the other day and used Gemini to help me. And here’s the recipe it suggested and that I used…

Shredded cabbage (coleslaw mix from the store works great too!)
Mayonnaise
Vinegar (apple cider or white vinegar)
Sugar

Here’s how to make it:

In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage with mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar.
Season with salt and pepper to taste (optional).
Toss well to coat and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld.

Tips:

For a creamier slaw, add a bit more mayonnaise.
Want a tangier slaw? Add a little more vinegar.
Play around with the proportions of sugar and vinegar to find your perfect balance of sweet and tart.

Plan a trip anywhere… How about we use AI to plan a 3-day trip to Paris?

Day 1: Bonjour, Paris!

Morning: Start your day with a quintessential Parisian breakfast at a local cafe. Grab a buttery croissant, a pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant), or a tartine (bread with jam or butter) along with a cup of coffee or creamy cafe au lait.

Eiffel Tower: Ascend the iconic Eiffel Tower, a symbol of Paris. Marvel at the panoramic city views from the top, and capture breathtaking photos.

Seine River Cruise: Embark on a scenic Seine River cruise, taking in the beauty of the city from a different perspective. Glide past famous landmarks like the Louvre Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral.

Lunch: Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a restaurant near the Champs-Élysées, the famous Parisian avenue known for its high-end shops and vibrant atmosphere.

Restaurant Option: Le Coupe-Choux (French Bistro): This lively bistro offers classic French fare with a modern twist. Indulge in dishes like steak frites, escargot, or a decadent boeuf bourguignon (beef stew).

Well, you get the idea. Using Ai is a great way to plan an itinerary for your next trip including suggestions for sight-seeing and great places to eat.

Find restaurants and things to do near you.

Just ask your favorite AI: “Find restaurants and places of interest within xx miles of (enter your zip code or location)”

I searched my area and found 2 restaurants I didn’t even know existed and found out that the fish hatchery which had been closed for quite a while is now open to visitors again. It might not sound exciting but it is an idyllic setting featuring one of five “bottomless” natural pools in the area and it’s interesting to see how they hatch and raise the different types of fish. Give it a try – you might find restaurants and interesting places near you that you didn’t know existed or you’d forgotten about.

AI is here to say whether we like it or not. And it’s going to become more and more part of our lives. You don’t need to be a geek or technically inclined to use AI, every one of you can use it right now – all you need to know how to do is type and ask questions. 

Dropping Off

There are a lot of things about getting old that are difficult. Most of us woke up one morning and looked in the mirror and said “Oh, My Gosh! Is that me?” A friend of mine who died a few years ago had a webcam before they were ubiquitous. He said one day he turned on his computer and forget his webcam was hooked up and jumped out of his chair in fright when he saw a withered-up old codger looking back at him from the computer screen. It was him.

Most of us never thought we would be old and now look at us… the young don’t even know we exist. Hah! I was young once and I never thought I’d be old. I thought 30 was long enough to live when I was 15. My teachers who were in their 30s and 40s looked like old shriveled prunes to me when I was in middle school.

Now look at me…actually, I would prefer you don’t.

If you’re an old coot like me then you know what I mean when I say you only age on the outside, while the inside stays the same. You wake up one morning, look in the mirror, and see a 75-year-old ‘you’ staring back. That’s what it’s like being old. Though you’re old the young person inside is still you. You haven’t changed your sense of self.

Sometimes you think you can still do the things you used to do until you try to do them. And the world does not see the me inside, it just sees an old coot

What is the Num Lock key for?

The Num Lock is seldom used, in fact, most of us never use the Num Lock key. Some of us don’t even know where it is or even care where it is. But, we can show you a couple of little tricks using the Num Lock key that are useful. So, for those of you who don’t know where the Num Lock key is, it’s at the top of the Numeric Keypad on the right side of your keyboard, usually on the top of the numeric keypad (most laptops do not have numeric keypads – laptop keyboards are a different animal). Take a look – over there on the left. See it? Good!

Did you know if you hold down the Num Lock key for 5 seconds you can turn on “Toggle keys”? Toggle keys will cause your computer to beep whenever you accidentally hit the Caps Lock key Scroll Lock key or the Num Lock key.

Go ahead and try it now. Hold down the Num Lock key for five seconds (a light will come on indicating the Num Lock key is depressed – no it’s not depressed because you're pressing on it – or maybe it is!) When the light goes out (in about 5 seconds) a dialog window will appear and tell you that you’ve turned Toggle Keys and if you want to keep them on to click OK. Obviously, at this point, you can also cancel turning the Toggle Keys on.

Also, toggling the Num Lock key on and off switches between using the number keys to type numbers like 789456123 and using the number keys as function keys. The function each key performs in function mode (Num Lock key toggled off) is shown on the keys themselves. For instance, pressing certain keys, like “7” for instance, will cause your cursor to jump to the beginning of a line of text. And “4” will backspace one space.