Artificial intelligence in everyday life

Artificial intelligence (AI) and neural networks have long ceased to be futuristic technologies from science fiction. Today, they have quietly but confidently entered our everyday lives, simplifying routine tasks, speeding up processes, and making our lives more comfortable. From voice assistants to personalized recommendations on social media, AI works in the background, remaining invisible but extremely useful.

In this article, we'll explore how neural networks help us every day, often behind the scenes, and why the modern world would be less convenient without them.

Communication

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing communications with voice assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

These tools use natural language processing (NLP) technology to understand and respond to voice commands, allowing users to easily perform a wide range of tasks, from checking the weather to sending messages, making phone calls, and searching the internet.

One of the most powerful features of AI assistants is their ability to provide quick and accurate answers. Thanks to advanced neural networks, they analyze queries in real time and provide relevant information. Want to know the translation of a foreign word? Or maybe you're interested in the capital of Bhutan? AI assistants can answer instantly by pulling data from reliable sources.

Some of the popular apps and their features:

• ChatGPT. The world's most famous chatbot.
• Grammarly. A writing assistant that can correct grammatical errors and improve the style of your text.
• Otter.ai can convert spoken language into written text.
• Notion is a powerful tool for creating and organizing notes, taking notes, and managing projects.

Voice assistants can organize your schedule, find the nearest restaurant with good reviews, book a table, or even suggest dishes based on your food preferences. By syncing with your calendars, they can remind you of meetings, appointments, or deadlines. For example, you can ask, “What's my schedule for today?” and get a detailed plan for the day.

Services such as Gmail use AI to classify your messages and prioritize incoming emails so you never miss an important message. They can also recognize spam and automatically move it to the Spam folder.

Interesting statistics: In 2022, approximately 142 million people in the United States were using voice assistants. This number is expected to reach 157.1 million by 2026.

Content recommendations

Social media uses artificial intelligence to analyze your behavior. It notes the posts and videos you watch all the way through or scroll past quickly. Using this information, it shapes your feed, showing you more of what might catch your attention, suggesting people you might want to connect with, and even recommending products you might like. It's like having a personal assistant who is always trying to guess what you want to see next.

For example:

• TikTok's “For You” page uses real-time data to refine recommendations, adapting to your changing interests. If you linger on travel vlogs or cooking tutorials, the algorithm prioritizes similar content, creating a highly personalized experience.
• Netflix suggests movies and TV shows based on the genres you've watched.
• Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist introduces new songs by combining your music preferences with those of similar users.

Personalized recommendations not only keep users engaged, but also help content creators reach an audience that matches their niche. On the other hand, overreliance on algorithms can lead to the creation of “filter bubbles” or “echo chambers” where users only see content that aligns with their existing beliefs. Over time, this narrows their worldview, limits their exposure to diverse ideas, and can exacerbate societal polarization.

Fun fact: In 2024, artificially generated content artwork and music emerged as social media's most popular content type, with 25% of users finding it appealing.

Finance and e-commerce

Artificial intelligence optimizes budgeting, tracks expenses, and even helps negotiate bills. Intelligent algorithms can help you detect fraud, make financial forecasts, and make decisions. Here are some real-world examples of AI in the financial sector:

• Personalized financial advice.

AI-powered robo-advisors provide customized investment strategies based on the user's goals, risk tolerance, and financial history. Platforms such as Betterment and Wealthfront use AI to provide recommendations on portfolio diversification, investment rebalancing, and tax minimization, making wealth management accessible to the masses.

• Credit scoring and risk assessment.

AI assesses creditworthiness by analyzing various data, including payment history, social media activity, and even non-traditional indicators such as utility bill payments. This enables fairer lending decisions, especially for individuals with limited credit history. AI also assesses investment risks, helping financial institutions optimize their portfolios.

• Fraud detection.

AI systems analyze transaction patterns to identify anomalies that indicate fraud. Machine learning models can detect suspicious activity in real time, such as unusual spending or login attempts, protecting both consumers and institutions. For example, banks use AI to detect unauthorized credit card transactions, reducing financial losses.

• Customer support automation.

AI-powered chatbots handle customer inquiries around the clock, quickly and accurately resolving issues such as order tracking or product returns. Advanced systems, such as those with natural language processing, can understand complex queries and provide human-like responses, increasing customer trust and reducing support costs.

Smart homes

Modern homes are becoming increasingly “smart” thanks to artificial intelligence-based devices that bring automation, convenience, and enhanced security to everyday life. From intuitive climate control to self-monitoring security systems, smart home technologies are transforming how we interact with our living spaces, making them more efficient, safer, and better suited to our lifestyles.

Smart home devices learn your habits to create a truly personalized environment. Systems such as Nest or Ecobee thermostats automatically adjust the temperature based on your schedule, whether anyone is home, and even the weather forecast, ensuring maximum comfort and reducing energy consumption. Smart lighting (such as Philips Hue) can synchronize lights with sunrise and sunset times, creating a natural rhythm.

AI has revolutionized home security with features such as:

• Face recognition to distinguish between family members, guests, and strangers
• Real-time alerts for unusual activity (e.g., movement at the door)
• Automatic responses such as turning on lights or sounding an alarm when a security breach occurs
• Smart doorbells (e.g., Ring) that provide two-way communication from anywhere

These systems are easy to integrate, allowing homeowners to remotely monitor their property and respond instantly to potential threats.

Smart appliances—from refrigerators that track food supplies to washing machines—take the hassle out of housework. Imagine a coffee maker that starts brewing when your morning alarm goes off, or blinds that open with a voice command. With centralized hubs (such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa), all devices work together to perform routine tasks such as “Good night” (locking doors, dimming lights, and adjusting the thermostat).

In addition to convenience, smart homes promote sustainability. Automated systems minimize energy waste by:

• Adjusting heating/cooling in unused rooms
• Turning off lights when no one is in the room
• Optimizing the use of appliances during off-peak hours

This precision reduces utility bills and environmental impact.

Interesting statistics: In the US, 76% of survey respondents reported owning a smart TV. Additionally, at least 20% of households own other smart home devices.

Navigation and transportation

The transportation sector is undergoing radical changes driven by the development of artificial intelligence. From daily commutes to long-distance travel, AI is making travel safer, more efficient, and increasingly autonomous.

Modern navigation apps such as Google Maps and Waze use AI for the following purposes:

• Analyzing real-time traffic data from millions of cars, sensors, and cameras
• Predicting and preventing traffic jams by suggesting optimal alternative routes
• Taking weather conditions, road works, and accidents into account when planning routes
• Planning trips using multiple means of transportation

These intelligent systems not only save time, but also reduce fuel consumption by up to 15% through route optimization, contributing to a better urban environment.

Self-driving car technology is developing rapidly and is based on artificial intelligence:

• 360° surround view systems using LiDAR, cameras, and radars to detect obstacles
• Machine learning algorithms that process traffic patterns and predict hazards
• Advanced safety features such as pedestrian detection and emergency braking
• V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication, enabling vehicles to “talk” to infrastructure

Companies such as Waymo and Tesla are proving that autonomous vehicles can reduce the number of accidents caused by human error while improving traffic flow in smart cities.

AI is transforming the urban transport system through:

• Adaptive traffic lights that adjust timing based on real-time vehicle and pedestrian traffic
• Predictive analytics that enable traffic jams to be anticipated and prevented before they occur
• Intelligent parking solutions that guide drivers to available spaces, reducing search times
• Integrated public transport systems with AI-optimized schedules and routes

These innovations reduce commuting times in pilot cities by up to 25% and cut emissions through smoother traffic flow.

Education

Thanks to artificial intelligence, education is becoming deeply personalized for better comprehension of learning material by students.

Artificial intelligence-based platforms function as personal tutors for each student. They analyze how each student interacts with the material, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. When a student struggles with a mathematical concept, the platform does not simply repeat the same explanation, but finds new ways to present the information, whether through visual diagrams, step-by-step instructions, or interactive practical tasks.

The benefits extend beyond the academic sphere. AI makes education more inclusive through the following capabilities:

• Text-to-speech conversion for students with visual impairments
• Speech-to-text conversion for people with limited mobility
• Creation of adaptive interfaces for students with neurodiversity
• 24/7 learning assistance regardless of location

Teachers see AI as a powerful ally, not a replacement. Automated grading takes care of routine tasks, freeing up time for more meaningful learning. Detailed analytics help educators identify class-wide trends and individual challenges early on, enabling them to take timely action. The result is a more dynamic classroom where technology takes over administrative tasks and teachers focus on inspiring and mentoring their students.

As these technologies improve, new opportunities for lifelong learning are emerging. Professionals can now take advantage of AI coaches that help them learn new skills at their own pace, with content tailored to their growing experience. Language learners practice with AI conversation partners available at any time and receive instant feedback on pronunciation and grammar.

Healthcare

It all begins with diagnosis. Where human eyes might tire after reviewing hundreds of scans, AI systems bring tireless precision. These intelligent assistants don't replace radiologists but augment their capabilities, catching subtle tumor patterns in mammograms or early signs of neurological degeneration that might otherwise go unnoticed. The result isn't just earlier detection of diseases like cancer—it's the gift of time for patients facing critical health challenges.

AI is fundamentally changing medical diagnostics by analyzing complex data with superhuman accuracy. Advanced algorithms can now:

• Detect subtle patterns in medical images that may escape human attention, improving early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer, strokes, and neurological disorders
• Predict health risks by analyzing genetic markers, lifestyle factors, and medical history, enabling preventive measures to be taken before symptoms appear
• Recommend personalized treatment plans by matching a patient's unique profile with millions of clinical studies and clinical trials

By analyzing a patient's genetic makeup alongside thousands of similar cases, algorithms can now predict how a person will respond to specific medications. This means less trial and error in prescribing medications, fewer side effects, and treatment tailored not only to the disease but also to the unique individual battling it.

Modern wearable devices can:

• Continuously monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and even stress levels
• Detect potential health issues early, from irregular heartbeats to sleep apnea
• Provide real-time feedback to help users make healthier choices throughout the day

Virtual consultations now begin with intelligent symptom analysis that helps refer patients to the right specialist faster. For rural residents and patients with limited mobility, this technology is not just convenient — it is life-changing, providing access to specialists that was previously impossible due to geographical location. AI-powered translation breaks down language barriers, and remote monitoring systems allow chronic conditions to be managed from home, reducing hospitalizations.

Conclusion

Let's be honest — we already live with AI in ways that seemed like science fiction just ten years ago. It's how our phones predict the next word before we type it, how streaming services somehow know our mood, and why thermostats adjust the temperature before we even feel cold. This isn't just technology — it's technology that studies us.

But here's the amazing thing: AI isn't some unstoppable force taking over human life. It's more like clay — its shape is entirely dependent on the hands that mold it. Those hands could belong to corporations chasing profits, governments hungry for control, or — if we choose — all of us who use AI every day. The question isn't whether AI will change our world (it already has), but whether we will be passive consumers or active creators of those changes. Will we be satisfied with apps that simply make us addicted, or will we demand ones that truly enrich our lives?

The way forward requires collective effort. Policymakers, developers, and everyday users must work together to ensure that AI serves humanity, not the other way around. This means supporting regulations that hold companies accountable, promoting diverse teams developing these technologies, and keeping citizens informed. As AI evolves, our understanding must deepen. The future will be shaped not only by AI, but also by how wisely we guide its integration into our lives.

One thing is certain: AI is here to stay, and it is up to us to decide whether it will be a tool for empowerment or division. By embracing both its potential and our responsibility to use it wisely, we can build a future in which technology not only makes life easier, but also more just and humane.