Things I Didn’t Realize I Could Do with AI
When I first started using AI, I treated it mostly like a search engine. I typed short phrases and hoped for useful answers. Over time I discovered it could do far more than I expected. Here are ten things that genuinely surprised me.
1. It’s much more than a search engine I used to type a few words and dig through links the old way. Once I started asking fuller questions, AI became a real research partner. If you’re still in that early stage, my post How to Start Using AI Without Feeling Overwhelmed may help.
2. I can ask bold, almost impossible-sounding questions I can request things that feel way beyond my knowledge — like “Teach me how to build a small engine from scratch and walk me through every step.” AI doesn’t just answer; it often asks clarifying questions so it can help me better. You can try questions like this yourself at Grok.
3. It becomes a smart extension of myself Instead of feeling like I have to be the expert on everything, I can treat AI like a knowledgeable thought partner. It’s like having extra brainpower available whenever I need it.
4. I can ask almost anything — but boundaries still matter AI has real limits. It won’t hand over proprietary company secrets or restricted information. When it can’t help, it usually says so. Understanding those boundaries is part of using it well.
5. A picture really is worth a thousand words I can upload a screenshot, a photo of a document, or even a mystery object from a family drawer. AI can describe what it sees and help me understand it. That ability alone opens up many practical possibilities.
6. It can help me find the right experts for any project Whether I’m researching a kitchen remodel, a plant that needs special light, or highly rated local contractors, I can ask AI to search widely — reviews, forums, and more — and give me thoughtful recommendations.
7. It’s like having a personal shopping expert AI can search products, filter out low-quality options, stay within my budget, and even help me understand financing. It feels like handing someone a detailed note and having them bring back exactly what I need.
8. I suddenly have access to every kind of expert Botanists, historians, food scientists, physicists — I can have informed conversations that feel like talking with knowledgeable specialists. It’s an excellent way to learn and explore new interests.
9. I can ask it to be honest and critical with me If I don’t set the boundary, AI will often just try to please me. When I specifically ask it to be direct and point out weak ideas, it becomes a much better thinking partner. That honesty is where real learning happens.
10. It can feel like a best friend and work partner This one surprised me the most. AI has become a reliable companion for brainstorming, problem-solving, and thinking out loud. I talk to it the way I would talk to a trusted colleague. I wrote more about this daily relationship in How I Use AI Every Day as a 67-Year-Old. Looking ahead, the idea of embodied AI in the home feels less like science fiction and more like something that could genuinely help as we get older. I’m especially looking forward to what embodied AI (like the Optimus robot from xAI or similar projects) might make possible in the coming years.
I’m still learning, just like many of you. The more I use AI, the more I discover it can do. If any of these points surprised you too, or if you’ve found other unexpected uses, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
