When you think of AI you might immediately picture someone using ChatGPT to plan their day, draft an essay or generate an image in the style of a Studio Ghibli movie, but artificial intelligence is found in far more places than just the AI chatbot.
Of course, chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Meta AI are highly versatile and there are loads of ways you can make use of them, but there’s also AI built into many apps these days. This means you might be relying on AI on a daily basis without even knowing it.
I’m personally not interested in using AI to take over creative processes, such as writing, photography or artwork. However, I have encountered quite a few ways the technology can be used to speed up the more mundane, everyday tasks, such as writing an email or transcribing a video.
Keep reading to discover seven ways I’ve used AI to make my life a little easier.
Simplifying contracts with ChatGPT
I’ll start with one task I have found ChatGPT to be helpful for and that is breaking down contracts and more technical documents to make them easier to peruse.
I’ve done this with the paperwork when opening a new credit card and signing up for a new phone contract. I pasted the contract into the chatbot and asked it to summarise the main points and highlight any potential points of concern in the terms of service that I should be aware of before signing the paperwork.
Drafting emails with Gmail
One of the most useful AI functions I’ve come across that has become a staple in my day-to-day life is autocomplete, specifically when drafting emails.
As a Gmail user, I regularly rely on Smart Compose to predict my sentence before I finish typing based on the way I typically write – and Google gets it right (or sounds better than my initial sentence) a good amount of the time.
This means I can spend more brain power focussing on getting my point across and remembering to include attachments and less on typing the message word-by-word.
Another Google favourite of mine is Translate.
Specifically, I like to use the camera function to translate menus, signs and websites into English quickly and conveniently. While not always 100% accurate, this AI feature definitely makes it easier to read information and order abroad when you’re unfamiliar with the language.
Google Lens’s reverse image search function is perhaps the tool I rely on most when online shopping.
I like to buy a lot of my clothes on Vinted but many of the items listed are unbranded, lack a size guide and are shown on a hanger as opposed to on a model. This means it isn’t always clear what you’re getting until it arrives on your doorstep.
I typically screenshot the item I am interested in and drop it into Google Lens to see if I can find the source. If the brand is listed, you can also enter this in the search bar to help narrow it down. Once I find the original listing, I can see exactly how the item looks on a person, along with a size guide so I can check if the brand runs small, large or true-to-size.
Google Lens also comes in handy when shopping products on Etsy and social media, as reverse searching the item will often show results for AliExpress, Amazon and other sellers to alert you if that item is being dropshipped.
Removing backgrounds in Canva
Next up is Canva. This photo editing app is packed with AI tools and features. However, the one I use most is BG Remover, an AI background removing tool identified as one of Canva’s Premium options by a small crown icon.
I use BG Remover to cut out elements and make images like the one at the top of this page everyday at work, though you can certainly find similar and even free background remover tools in other photo editing apps.
Generating subtitles in CapCut
Another handy AI feature for any creative is CapCut’s subtitle generator.
This tool transcribes the audio in your videos, generating subtitles and syncing them up with your video. You can then customise the font, styles, effects, filters and animations for the subtitles before exporting your video for social media.
Whether you’re a high-earning influencer or posting videos to TikTok and Reels for fun, subtitles are an easy way to ensure your videos are accessible and easy to follow. CapCut even offers bilingual caption support, allowing it to display subtitles in multiple languages simultaneously.
Transcribing interviews in Aiko
Finally, if you’re conducting an interview, recording a lecture or partaking in a meeting, an AI-powered audio transcription app like Aiko or Otter.ai can be incredibly helpful when summarising your notes.
My personal favourite app is Aiko, as I’ve found it to be the most accurate, offering support for multiple languages and the option to export the transcription in different formats with timestamps. There’s also a search function, allowing you to jump directly to specific quotes.
While the transcription is unlikely to be 100% perfect every time, I’ve found that this app comes very close and means that, if I do want to check the accuracy, I can simply listen to my recording in double speed while reading the transcription and make any changes when I spot them as opposed to typing everything out word by word.
