A few days ago, I discussed ChatGPT with a friend who immediately criticized it, arguing that younger generations might lose their critical thinking skills due to over-reliance on AI. He even joked that they can’t solve basic math problems anymore.
I countered by highlighting the benefits of AI: it offers a judgment-free way to ask questions and fill gaps in knowledge, allowing people to learn at their own pace and driven by curiosity. There’s no need to feel ashamed for not knowing everything, which is quite empowering.
That gave him pause and made him reconsider his viewpoint.
Now I’m interested—what valuable use cases for AI have you discovered that I might not have considered? For instance, I came across a thread where people used AI for mood analysis and low-barrier “therapy” sessions. Personally, I find it incredibly useful for self-improvement, bridging knowledge gaps (particularly in accounting for my business), and proofreading or optimizing my writing for posts and emails.
I use it to find cooking recipes. I input the ingredients I have left in my fridge and ask for recipe suggestions and instructions. This way, I can avoid the lengthy introductions and ads often found on traditional recipe websites.
I’m a better editor than a writer, but I still want to write. So, I describe what I’m aiming for to ChatGPT, then review the output and think, “That’s not quite right; it should be this way instead.” And just like that, my writer’s block is gone.
My quirky use case for ChatGPT is coffee. I’m passionate about coffee and use ChatGPT as my coffee expert. I ask for tips on dialing in specific beans for my machine and provide a photo of the coffee label to get details on its origin, processing, and taste profile. This transforms my coffee experience into a global exploration.
I carefully craft my prompts, and as the conversation progresses, ChatGPT gets better at understanding the nuances I’m looking for. It’s surprising how many people don’t realize that interacting with ChatGPT requires more than just asking questions like you would on Google. Providing context and having a dialogue yields the best results.
Yep, I use it to fill in knowledge gaps and have learned a lot about PowerShell, Power Automate, JSON scripting, Excel functions and macros, and even topics my kids ask about. I’ve explored things like modern math teaching methods, history, Zen, CBT therapy, recipes, home repairs, and home improvement. I’ve also had friends debate ChatGPT with me, but they mostly focus on its water usage, which is frustrating.