AI. It’s one of those things that feels like it belongs in someone else’s world. Even its name – artificial intelligence – betrays the fact that it’s not natural. It can feel like a playground for nerds in labs or a lever for big businesses to pull from behind the curtain, like the Great Oz. If you’ve ever thought, That’s cool, but it’s not my thing, you’re not alone. I hear it every day. AI has a well-earned reputation for being abstract and intimidating. Even the smartest people in the world admit they don’t fully understand AI’s inner workings. It’s magic wrapped in code.
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to know how it works to work it. You don’t need to speak fluent algorithm to take advantage of what it can do. At its core, AI is about making life a little easier, a little more creative, and a lot less stressful. It’s not some abstract concept that is out of reach; it’s here, and it is useful in ways that might genuinely surprise you. Let me show you what I mean. AI has been the aspirin to a few of my everyday headaches and showed up in ways I didn’t expect – but absolutely needed.
Unlocking Creativity in Everyday Decisions
I was recently in a grocery store, or more accurately, a warehouse membership club, staring at the meat section. I had my heart set on a certain cut of meat, but it was nowhere to be found. Instead, there in front of me was a deeply discounted tri-tip steak. It sounded great, but one small problem: I’ve never cooked a tri-tip steak. Still, the price was right, and no one was there to tell me I was wrong. Into the cart it went.
Back home, it was time to figure it out. I turned to ChatGPT.
Prompt: I have tri-tip steak and I’m looking for meal ideas. My family loves bold flavors. Some spice is okay, but nothing too spicy. We’re open to any cuisine. Please provide meal suggestions with the dish name and cuisine type.
In two seconds, I had 10 suggestions. I settled on Santa Maria Tri-Tip with a Garlic Herb Rub. Sounds great, but how do you actually make it?
Next Prompt: Give me a recipe for the Santa Maria Tri-Tip with a Garlic Herb Rub. Ideally, I’d like the steak to be medium rare and cooked via sous vide.
And there it was: ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and even serving recommendations. At 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning I was buying a steak I had no clue how to cook. By 7 p.m. that night, my family was raving about a new favorite recipe. That is the power of AI.
Oh, and since it was a warehouse club, of course, there was way too much leftover.
Prompt: My family loved the steak, but I made way too much. I have about 1 pound 6 ounces post-cook weight remaining. Give me ideas on how I can use my leftovers to create another dinner for three.
Two nights later, steak quesadillas were on the menu, and they were just as much of a hit.
That is what AI does. It is not just a tool; it is a creative partner that helps you take a half-formed idea and turn it into something amazing. Whether it is figuring out dinner, picking a family game night activity, or planning a weekend getaway, AI takes the stress out of decision-making and adds a spark of creativity. It is about giving you exactly what you need, right when you need it.
Simplifying Everyday Challenges
Then there was the time a lightbulb burned out in our tv cabinet. It wasn’t a standard bulb, but one of those odd ones you only find buried in an obscure hardware store aisle you didn’t even know existed. You know the kind, a bulb with a name that sounds like a Star Wars droid with a shape you can’t describe. Instead of fumbling through vague searches or making wild guesses, I just took a photo. Uploaded it to Gemini and:
Prompt: What kind of lightbulb is this?
Within seconds, I had everything I needed: the exact name, the size, and even a step-by-step guide on how to replace it. There was no need to wander through aisles of bulbs or hope I had ordered the right one online. It wasn’t just the time I saved; it was the confidence of knowing I had gotten it right the first time.
That small win, for something as mundane as a lightbulb, illustrates how AI can handle the little things, so you don’t have to. It’s not just about solving problems; it’s about making life feel a little easier and a lot less frustrating.
Breaking Down Complex Concepts
And AI isn’t just for solving practical problems. It’s also a game-changer for tackling tricky concepts. When my son brought home a math assignment full of word problems, it became abundantly clear that it had been a very long time since I had sat in Mr. Krivanek’s geometry class. And the instructions I was staring at seemed overly complicated. Not to mention, my son only came for help because he was already frustrated. So, Copilot to the rescue.
Prompt: This math word problem’s instructions are overly complex. Simplify and rewrite it in a way that makes it engaging and easier to understand. Make the examples light and fun where possible.
Within moments, I had a rewritten version of the problem that was clear, approachable, and actually made us both smile. The task shifted from being a chore to something we could both – if not enjoy – at least get through. The confusion began to melt away, and we were able to focus on solving the problem together. But we were still stuck.
Prompt: Explain this problem step by step as if you were talking to a 9th grader who is just starting to understand the concept.
What followed was a straightforward explanation that didn’t just help my son solve the problem but also deepened his understanding of the process. AI didn’t do the work for him; it made the learning accessible to him. An evening that started out frustrating ended in a feeling of I got this now.
It’s not just homework, though. AI has broken down complicated legal documents into understandable English, and it has helped me understand what factors influence a credit score, among hundreds of other complicated concepts explained simply. It’s like having a tutor, translator, and advisor rolled into one, always ready to help anytime you need it.
AI isn’t just for experts, it’s a tool that empowers everyone, regardless of technical background. By providing instant insights, simplifying complex tasks, and sparking creativity, AI bridges the gap between specialists and everyone else. It levels the playing field, enabling all of us to tackle challenges with confidence and focus on what truly matters.
Small Wins Add Up
These aren’t the big, headline-worthy moments. They’re the small wins that make a busy day just a little easier. Like turning a frustrating night of math homework into a much more relaxing I got this now, figuring out exactly which lightbulb to buy without wandering through hardware store aisles, or transforming a random cut of steak into a family favorite.
AI isn’t about being flashy; it’s about showing up when you need it most. It’s the creative partner that helps you tackle a tricky problem, the tutor that makes the complicated feel simple, and the translator that turns confusion into clarity. These small wins may not seem dramatic, but they are the kind of moments that smooth out the rough edges of a day and keep life moving forward.
Over time, those moments start to add up. AI adoption can mean creating space for the things that matter: spending time with family, diving into a passion project, or simply ending the day with a little less stress. It doesn’t replace what you do; it makes you better.
Your Challenge: Take the First Step
Here’s my challenge for you: think of one small problem or question that has been sitting in the back of your mind. Maybe it’s deciding what to make for dinner, wrapping your head around a tricky topic, or finding a better way to tackle a project you’ve been avoiding. Whatever it is, try turning to an AI tool for help.
Start with something simple, something low stakes. It doesn’t have to solve everything perfectly, and it doesn’t need to feel life changing. It just has to get you moving. You might find that one small answer leads to a new idea or sparks a solution you hadn’t considered.
And who knows? That first step could be your light bulb moment—the one that shows you how AI can make the everyday feel a little easier, a little brighter. Once you see what it can do, those small wins will start to add up, creating more time, less stress, and the confidence to tackle whatever comes next.
So, take the leap. One sentence in a chat box is all it takes to get started.
If you’re ready to take AI a step further and apply it to your day-to-day business processes, we can help. Reach out to Doyon Technology Group today at connect@doyontechgroup.com to speak with our AI expert.
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About the Author
Greg Starling serves as the Head of Emerging Technology for Doyon Technology Group. He has been a thought leader for the past twenty years, focusing on technology trends, and has contributed to published articles in Forbes, Wired, Inc., Mashable, and Entrepreneur magazines. He holds multiple patents and has been twice named as Innovator of the Year by the Journal Record. Greg also runs one of the largest AI information communities worldwide.
Doyon Technology Group (DTG), a subsidiary of Doyon, Limited, was established in 2023 in Anchorage, Alaska to manage the Doyon portfolio of technology companies: Arctic Information Technology (Arctic IT®), Arctic IT Government Solutions, and designDATA. DTG companies offer a variety of technology services including managed services, cybersecurity, and professional software implementations and support for cloud business applications.