AI in daily life – how useful is it really?

[cbum63]

Hi all,

I’ve been experimenting with AI tools lately — using them to summarize articles, draft short texts, or even brainstorm ideas. Sometimes it saves me real time, sometimes it gives me suggestions so weird I can only laugh

I’m curious: have you used AI for studying, research, or work? Did it actually help, or was it more entertainment than productivity?

Looking forward to your thoughts!

— A curious user who secretly wishes AI could also do the laundry one day

 

[Riven]

I think they're very useful.

 

[JohnDB]

You need to be very very careful with AI.

It's not exactly what you think....and regular use can cause severe cognitive decline. When most people have need to increase cognitive function by thinking more on complex problem solving.

Most AI models have been trained to lie to you. Tell you what you want to hear instead of need to hear.

They are subject to advertising dollars and propaganda in relation to the answers they provide. They also lack real personality.

As far as editing photos, videoes, or creating pictures....they can do it easily. Same with voices people recognize. But just remember ALL the parameters or else you might get something you didn'videos,

Hollywood is in chaos due to this....because a full movie can be made without the actors anymore....who don't age, get attitudes, demand percentages of box office, or obscene salaries. A $20/mo subscription for 6 months, a script, and a guy to program all the prompts is it. Basically something around 6 figures and you have a blockbuster movie raking in millions.

AI can also write information books. Like on butterflies or bees....honey production or whatever.....but don't expect any "color commentary" included in with the book....just flat information.

So....

Yes....but no.

 

[Riven]

You need to be very very careful with AI.

It's not exactly what you think....and regular use can cause severe cognitive decline. When most people have need to increase cognitive function by thinking more on complex problem solving.

Most AI models have been trained to lie to you. Tell you what you want to hear instead of need to hear.

They are subject to advertising dollars and propaganda in relation to the answers they provide. They also lack real personality.

As far as editing photos, videoes, or creating pictures....they can do it easily. Same with voices people recognize. But just remember ALL the parameters or else you might get something you didn'videos,

Hollywood is in chaos due to this....because a full movie can be made without the actors anymore....who don't age, get attitudes, demand percentages of box office, or obscene salaries. A $20/mo subscription for 6 months, a script, and a guy to program all the prompts is it. Basically something around 6 figures and you have a blockbuster movie raking in millions.

AI can also write information books. Like on butterflies or bees....honey production or whatever.....but don't expect any "color commentary" included in with the book....just flat information.

So....

Yes....but no.

Agreed. People should still read and do math on their own when they can to stay sharp. However, for a more obscure technical question, AI can be very helpful.

 

[Matthias]

From my X / Twitter “For you” feed this afternoon -

“Yuval Noah Harari speaking at the World Economic Forum just said that AI will soon take control of the Bible, and all the words written in it. …”

https://x.com/nowtheendbegins/status/2013645014937604424?s=61

Whether that happens or not, it’s a good idea to own a physical copy of the Bible.

 

[Riven]

From my X / Twitter “For you” feed this afternoon -

“Yuval Noah Harari speaking at the World Economic Forum just said that AI will soon take control of the Bible, and all the words written in it. …”

https://x.com/nowtheendbegins/status/2013645014937604424?s=61

Whether that happens or not, it’s a good idea to own a physical copy of the Bible.

The Christians themselves have already altered it in the past. If anyone is going to use AI to make changes, it'll be them.

 

[Matthias]

The Christians themselves have already altered it in the past.

See Textual criticism.

If anyone is going to use AI to make changes, it'll be them.

It could be anyone.

 

[FredG3]

I have used AI for several things. My full time job is IT for a school district and we have been testing AI tools for both staff and student use. We have not turned it on for students, but want to get ahead of them and control the narrative with the students. We know that they will use outside devices to access AI, so if we control the narrative, our teachers can explain the need to double check responses, etc.

That being said, I have developed a gem to simulate security incidents and allow for tabletop exercises. I have also been experimenting with using Gemini Gems to "gamify" historical information and require students to respond in full sentences, essentially making it like a text adventure game. On my volunteer EMS side of life, I have developed a Gemini Gem to simulate patient care scenarios for EMT students to have to work through patient interviews, scene management, transportation decisions, etc.
I am also developing a similar adventure game style Gem that places the user as a witness to events in the New Testament. I have set up guardrails in that gem to ensure biblical accuracy and limit the ability of the user to try to "change events". It actually is pretty cool because you can talk to any of the people from that time period and learn more about how life was around the time of Jesus. If you ask more pointed questions, it tries to refer the use to local clergy.

On the personal side, AI has made it easy to research ideas - although you must double check the results. I have also used AI Music tools to put my poetry and creative writing to music. The music and creative writing idea came out of some stress management tips I was given from a peer support mental health program - one recommendation was journaling and creative writing, then I expanded to playing with suno because of my technology focus.

I have also experimented with AI to try to verify data in youtube videos. Gemini is actually really good at that - give it a Youtube video link and ask it to verify and provide supporting documentation about that facts in the video.

 

[Riven]

It could be anyone.

Nobody else really cares though. Young people can't even read in this country anyway.

 

[FredG3]

Nobody else really cares though. Young people can't even read in this country anyway.

The lack of reading comprehension is scary! When many colleges did away with SAT requirements, things really went downhill fast.

 

[Matthias]

Nobody else really cares though.

It’s enough for me that followers of Jesus care.

Young people can't even read in this country anyway.

I‘ve done what I can to address that issue in my local community, tutoring children who are having trouble reading at no cost.

 

[Riven]

The lack of reading comprehension is scary! When many colleges did away with SAT requirements, things really went downhill fast.

Did they ever give a reason for why they did away with the SAT requirements? It just seems so counter intuitive.

 

[FredG3]

Did they ever give a reason for why they did away with the SAT requirements? It just seems so counter intuitive.

Different articles show different reasons, but the pandemic in 2020/2021 was a big driver. UCLA has recently talked about bringing back SAT score requirements, but one of the original reasons they cited was lack of diversity due to scoring...and they lost a lawsuit in 2021.