Opening Thoughts

Recently, I've noticed that my friends are all discussing AI - some think it's super cool and want to try it, while others find it too difficult to approach. As someone who's loved tinkering with new technology since childhood, I feel that current AI applications are actually very user-friendly and don't require any professional knowledge to get started. Today I'd like to share my journey and tips for using AI over the past few years. I believe after reading this, you'll discover that AI is actually much closer to us than you think!

Interestingly, when I first encountered AI, I was completely clueless about technology. Back then, I thought AI was science fiction technology that only existed in movies, until one day when I first used a smart voice assistant and realized that AI had already quietly entered our lives.

Smart Home Assistant

My first intimate encounter with AI began a few years ago. I had just moved into a new home when a friend gave me a smart speaker as a housewarming gift. At first, I thought it was just a speaker that could play music - what could be so special about it? But unexpectedly, this little device completely changed my lifestyle.

Now every morning I'm gently awakened by my smart speaker, which plays my favorite music at a fixed time based on my habits. Even more thoughtfully, it tells me today's weather and schedule. I remember once when I drowsily asked, "Should I bring an umbrella today?" It immediately replied that it might rain in the afternoon and suggested bringing an umbrella - and it really did rain!

Speaking of smart homes, I have to mention my smart thermostat system. Installing a Nest thermostat might be one of the wisest decisions I've ever made. It's like a thoughtful butler, always able to accurately predict what temperature our home needs. At 7 AM on workdays, while I'm still sleeping, it has already adjusted the temperature to the most comfortable level; on weekends, knowing we like to sleep in, it thoughtfully delays the temperature adjustment time.

More amazingly, this little device can even learn our living habits. For instance, it noticed that I usually go to bed around 11 PM, so it starts gradually lowering the temperature at 10:50 PM to create an environment conducive to sleep. Sometimes when I work late and come home, it detects this unusual situation and immediately adjusts the temperature to a comfortable level. This kind of intelligent thoughtfulness really makes me feel the warmth that technology can bring.

My smart home system also includes smart curtains, smart lighting, and smart locks. These devices work together to create an amazing living experience. For example, when I wake up in the morning, the curtains slowly open, letting sunlight gently stream in; when I return home at night, the door lock recognizes me as I approach, automatically unlocks, and turns on the entrance lights.

The most impressive experience was one time when I returned home from work. I was particularly tired that day, and while lying on the sofa, I said "I want to watch a movie." The smart system immediately dimmed the living room lights, slowly closed the curtains, automatically turned on the TV, and thoughtfully asked what type of movie I wanted to watch. This feeling of being in the future really makes one marvel at the magic of technology.

Mobile Intelligence

When talking about AI, we can't ignore our phones that we can't live without daily. Today's smartphones are essentially portable AI assistants, with AI's presence visible everywhere from photography to input methods.

Speaking of phone input methods, this has really helped me a lot. I remember having to type each character one by one before, but now AI input methods are so intelligent that often after I type just a few characters, it has already guessed what I want to say. Sometimes when I'm chatting with friends, the input method can even automatically recommend the most appropriate response based on context. This not only saves time but also makes chatting more smooth and natural.

What impresses me most is the phone's AI photography capabilities. As a photography novice, my photos used to be either overexposed or poorly composed. But now phone cameras are like having a miniature photographer - they can capture clear images whether in backlight or night scenes.

Last summer, I went to the beach and took a silhouette photo at sunset. Such high-contrast lighting scenes used to be a nightmare for photographers. But now AI algorithms directly helped me perfectly capture both the human silhouette and sunset details. When I shared it on social media, it got countless likes, and some friends even thought it was taken by a professional photographer!

Not only in photography, but the phone's AI capabilities are also quite powerful in video recording. Today's phones can not only auto-track focus but also beautify images in real-time and even automatically edit highlights. Once when I attended a friend's wedding and recorded the whole process, AI directly helped me edit it into a touching short film that moved the newlyweds tremendously.

The phone's AI assistant is also very thoughtful - it can help me plan routes, book restaurants, and proactively provide services based on my usage habits. For instance, knowing I read news every morning, it automatically pushes news content I'm interested in after I wake up. If it notices I'm listening to a certain type of music, it will recommend similar songs - just like an old friend who understands me.

Financial Manager

Speaking of the most impressive AI applications, the financial field takes the crown. I remember when I first started working, I knew nothing about financial management and just randomly kept money in the bank. It wasn't until I encountered robo-advisors that I realized financial management could be so simple.

Today's robo-advisory services are particularly user-friendly. They don't start by asking how much you want to invest, but first try to understand your overall situation. For example, they'll ask about your age, occupation, income level, and assess your risk tolerance. Interestingly, they even ask about your life plans, such as whether you plan to buy a house, get married, or study abroad.

Based on this information, AI creates a tailored investment plan for you. This plan isn't fixed but adjusts in real-time according to market changes and your life changes. For instance, when market fluctuations occur, it automatically adjusts the investment portfolio to help you avoid risks; when your income changes, it also adjusts the investment strategy accordingly.

I've been using robo-advisory services for over two years now, and the returns are much better than when I invested blindly before. Most importantly, it has provided me with a lot of financial knowledge education, and now I have a basic understanding of various financial products. Statistics show that globally managed assets by robo-advisors exceeded $2 trillion in 2023, nearly a 300% increase from 2020. What does this number indicate? It shows that more and more people like me are trusting AI with their finances.

Besides investment management, AI has also brought many conveniences in payments. Now I basically don't carry cash, as mobile payments can cover all aspects of daily life. Interestingly, AI can analyze my spending habits and provide financial advice. For example, it will remind me if my spending on takeout seems a bit high this month and suggest I control it appropriately.

Recently, I discovered a particularly cool feature where AI can help me make spending predictions. For example, if I want to buy a new phone, it can analyze whether I can afford it based on my income and fixed expenses, and how long it would take to break even if I make the purchase. This kind of detailed financial management has really given me a clearer understanding of my wallet.

Health Assistant

When it comes to changes AI has brought me, the health field definitely deserves mention. The smart band I wear now is a good example - it not only monitors my heart rate and sleep quality but also provides personalized health advice based on this data.

For instance, when it notices my deep sleep time has decreased recently, it suggests adjusting my sleep schedule and using my phone less at night. Even more impressive is that it can create personalized health plans based on my exercise data. I remember when I wanted to lose weight, it not only helped me create an exercise plan but also adjusted the exercise intensity based on my progress, and eventually helped me successfully lose 5 kilograms!

Speaking of health, we inevitably need to see doctors. Current remote consultation platforms use many AI technologies. Last year when I had a cold, I tried an online consultation platform. First, I had preliminary communication with AI, which could make an initial assessment of the condition's severity through a series of questions. This process was particularly clear and didn't feel like talking to a robot at all.

What surprised me more was that AI could not only make preliminary diagnoses but also give medication suggestions based on my symptoms and medical history. Of course, the final diagnosis and prescription would still be confirmed by a real doctor. Statistics show that such AI-assisted diagnosis accuracy has reached over 85%, greatly improving the efficiency of medical resource use.

In terms of daily health care, AI has also given me a lot of help. The nutrition planning app I use now is very intelligent - it recommends suitable nutrition supplement plans based on my physical condition and eating habits. Once when it noticed my protein intake was insufficient, it proactively pushed some high-protein food recipes and would remind me to supplement vitamins at appropriate times.

Final Thoughts

After sharing all this, have you also felt the charm of AI? It's like an omnipresent thoughtful assistant, quietly making our lives more convenient and intelligent. Every time I think about how I was intimidated by AI a few years ago but now can't live without it, I can't help but marvel at how fast technology develops.

Of course, AI technology continues to advance, and I believe more amazing applications will appear in the future. Perhaps in a few years, we'll have smarter home systems, more accurate health predictions, and more personalized service experiences. But no matter how technology develops, one thing remains constant: AI ultimately exists to serve humans and make our lives better.

Finally, I'm particularly curious about what AI applications you all use? Do you have any interesting experiences to share? Or are you particularly interested in certain AI applications but haven't tried them yet? Welcome to tell me in the comments section - maybe we can learn from each other and discover more wonderful uses of AI!