5 everyday uses for AI - Generative AI pt. 1
There has been a lot of buzz surrounding AI in recent months. Artificial intelligence has taken giant leaps in the last 12 months, and tools like Chat GPT and Midjourney are growing in popularity. Companies are constantly coming up with ways to utilize AI in various business areas, from content creation to productivity to customer service.
In addition to writing about the use of AI in a professional setting in e-commerce and marketing, I wanted to write one post about how AI can be utilized in your everyday life. In this blog, I’ll introduce 5 ways in which you can use Chat GPT or similar AI tools to make your life easier.
I asked AI to draft me a gym routine.
Personalized AI-suggested fitness program
Dozens of apps and websites exist solely to give you advice and routines for gyms. I wanted to know how Chat GPT would perform in giving me a program and instructions about the weights I should use.
I asked OpenAI to build me a program with 3 separate daily programs for separate muscle groups.
Legs and abs
Biceps, upper and lower back
Triceps, chest, and abs
I further asked about the weights I should consider, and Open AI clarified I should use 50-70% of my one-rep max (1RM) for most of the repetitions.
Here is what an AI-suggested fitness program looks like:
Day 1: Leg Muscles and Abs
Warm-up: 10 minutes on the stationary bike or treadmill
Squats: 4 sets of 10 reps
Leg press: 4 sets of 12 reps
Lunges: 3 sets of 12 reps per leg
Leg curls: 3 sets of 12 reps
Calf raises: 3 sets of 15 reps
Plank: 3 sets of 30 seconds
Russian twists: 3 sets of 20 reps
Day 2: Biceps, Upper and Lower Back
Warm-up: 10 minutes on the elliptical machine or rowing machine
Pull-ups: 4 sets of 8 reps
Seated rows: 4 sets of 12 reps
Lat pull-downs: 3 sets of 12 reps
Barbell curls: 3 sets of 10 reps
Hammer curls: 3 sets of 12 reps
Dumbbell rows: 3 sets of 12 reps per arm
Plank: 3 sets of 30 seconds
Bicycle crunches: 3 sets of 20 reps
Day 3: Triceps, Chest, Abs
Warm-up: 10 minutes on the stationary bike or treadmill
Bench press: 4 sets of 10 reps
Incline dumbbell press: 4 sets of 12 reps
Tricep dips: 3 sets of 12 reps
Cable flyes: 3 sets of 12 reps
Skull crushers: 3 sets of 10 reps
Tricep push-downs: 3 sets of 12 reps
Plank: 3 sets of 30 seconds
Leg raises: 3 sets of 20 reps
I decided to test the AI fitness program at my local gym for the next 2 weeks. Granted, the program is not significantly different from my normal gym routine.
Asking AI for a travel itinerary showcases some of its flaws.
Have AI write you a travel itinerary
Are you planning to travel? Have the destination decided but cannot find the time to draft a plan for your holiday? As someone living in a place where people generally have only 10-15 days of annual leave, we have to make the most of our holidays, so we always plan our trips to make the most of them.
My brother recently visited me in Hong Kong, and I wondered what Chat GPT would suggest as the itinerary if I gave it some suggestions.
PROMPT:
Design a travel itinerary for Hong Kong for 3 days. The plan should consider the time it takes to move between destinations and include suggestions for lunch and dinner for each day. The plan should at least include the following attractions:
Hiking at the dragon's back
Temple of 10,000 Buddhas
Visiting the Avenue of Stars
Happy Valley horse races
Here is the AI-suggested travel itinerary:
Day 1:
Morning: Hike the Dragon's Back. Start early to avoid the heat and crowds. The hike takes about 2-3 hours and offers stunning views of Hong Kong Island and the South China Sea.
Lunch: After the hike, head to Shek O village for some seafood. Shek O is known for its fresh seafood restaurants, and the beach is a great place to relax after the hike.
Afternoon: Visit the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas in Sha Tin. Take the MTR to Sha Tin station and then a short bus ride to the temple. The temple is known for its golden pagoda and the thousands of Buddha statues lining the path up to the temple.
Dinner: Head back to Hong Kong Island for dinner at one of the many restaurants in Central. Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo are two popular areas for dining and nightlife.
Day 2:
Morning: Visit the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Avenue of Stars is a promenade along the waterfront with statues of famous Hong Kong movie stars, and offers great views of Victoria Harbour.
Lunch: Grab a quick bite at a local cha chaan teng (tea restaurant) or dim sum restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Afternoon: Take the MTR to Causeway Bay and visit the Happy Valley Racecourse. The horse races take place on Wednesday nights from September to June, and offer a unique Hong Kong experience. Even if you're not a big horse racing fan, it's worth experiencing the atmosphere and excitement of the races.
Dinner: After the races, head to nearby Wan Chai for dinner. Wan Chai is known for its lively nightlife and many restaurants and bars.
Day 3:
Morning: Explore the neighbourhoods of Sheung Wan and Central. Start at the Man Mo Temple, a historic temple dedicated to the gods of literature and martial arts. Then, wander through the streets of Sheung Wan, known for its street art, antique shops, and cafes.
Lunch: Grab lunch at one of the many street food stalls or local restaurants in Sheung Wan.
Afternoon: Visit the Victoria Peak for a stunning view of the Hong Kong skyline. Take the Peak Tram up to the peak, or hike up if you're feeling adventurous. Once at the top, enjoy the panoramic view of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
Dinner: After sunset, head to Tsim Sha Tsui or Central for dinner and drinks. Both areas have a variety of restaurants and bars to choose from.
NOTE: This prompt, without clarifications, showcases some of the weaknesses of AI.
As it is not reading any maps or knowing the exact details of the destinations, the modes of transport are not correct. The 10,000 Buddhas monastery is only accessible by walking, but Chat GPT suggested taking a bus.
The AI does not include any recent data or events, so restaurant suggestions and other details may have changed.
Based on this, I would not let AI fully take over my itinerary planning, or at least I would double-check the details before my trip, but it does give reasonable suggestions and schedules for daily itineraries.
Pasta alla intelligenza artificiale
Recipe ideas based on your ingredients
Those who know me know I love cooking. Sometimes I have difficulty deciding what to cook, so I wanted to see how Chat GPT could help me. I created an imaginary ingredient list and asked Chat GPT for recipes. I made the ingredients quite easy, but you can try and explore what kind of recipes AI tools can conjure. Here is what Tuomo’s kitchen would be serving:
PROMPT:
I have the following ingredients at home. I cannot go to the store and don't have other vegetables or proteins available. Can you suggest 2 recipes based on these ingredients?
Fresh pasta
Burrata cheese
Basil
Fresh Tomatoes
Chicken thighs
Cream
Dijon mustard
Honey
Basic spices and staple ingredients like flour etc.
AI-generated recipes based on my prompt
Recipe 1: Creamy Chicken and Tomato Pasta
Ingredients:
4 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 fresh tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
Fresh pasta, cooked according to package instructions
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions:
Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute or until fragrant.
Add the diced tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes or until slightly softened.
Stir in the heavy cream and basil leaves.
Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and let everything simmer together for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened.
Serve the chicken and tomato sauce over cooked pasta and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and additional basil leaves, if desired.
Recipe 2: Burrata and Basil Pasta
Ingredients:
Fresh pasta, cooked according to package instructions
1 burrata cheese, torn into small pieces
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
Instructions:
Cook the fresh pasta according to package instructions.
Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large bowl.
Add the torn pieces of burrata cheese and chopped basil leaves to the bowl.
Drizzle the olive oil over the pasta and cheese, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Toss everything together until the pasta is coated in the cheese and oil.
Serve the burrata and basil pasta hot, and enjoy!
The AI-suggested recipes both seem ok, although having a 1/4 cup of oil for pasta seems like quite a lot. I also tried some other ingredient lists, and in one Chat GPT suggested I add a quarter cup of balsamic vinegar to the sauce. Maybe it is just me, but I have never added that much vinegar to any sauce.
AI can be a good tool in summarizing content or giving suggestions.
Can’t make up your mind? Let Chat GPT give you recommendations.
With the massive data pool at its disposal and the capability to create content based on your prompts, you can ask Chat GPT for recommendations on options. I personally find it convenient to ask for a 100-word summary on a topic instead of scrolling through 5 ad-ridden blog posts about travel destinations.
As an example, I asked Chat GPT for a 100-word summary on choosing between iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Here are the results. Note that since Chat GPT does not contain data after September 2021, asking for recommendations on recent phone models or such is not feasible yet.
100-word comparison by Chat GPT between S21 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro Max:
Both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are high-end phones with excellent features. The iPhone has a premium design and build quality, powerful A14 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity, triple-camera system, and LiDAR scanner. The Samsung has a slightly larger display with a higher resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, a powerful Exynos 2100 processor, 5G connectivity, quad-camera system with impressive zoom, a large 5000mAh battery, and S Pen support. The choice depends on personal preferences, with the iPhone offering a great camera system and iOS operating system, while the Samsung has a larger, smoother display, versatility, and S Pen support.
Would you let AI design your party?
Get help with party planning using AI.
My daughter is turning 3 next month, and we were discussing party games for her birthday just yesterday with my wife. I decided to let Chat GPT have a go at planning the program and come up with 3 games for the party.
PROMPT: Can you come up with 3 kids’ party games that are suitable for toddlers ranging from 2-4 years of age?
AI-generated toddler birthday program:
Bubble Pop: Toddlers love bubbles, so a game involving them is always a hit. Give each child a small bottle of bubbles and have them pop as many bubbles as they can. You could make it a competition and give prizes to the child who pops the most bubbles.
Freeze Dance: Play some music and have the toddlers dance around. When the music stops, they have to freeze in whatever position they are in. The last child to freeze is out, and the game continues until there is only one child left.
Treasure Hunt: Hide some small toys or treats around the party area, and have the toddlers search for them. You could give each child a bag or basket to collect their treasure in.
The nice thing about a generative AI chat system like Chat GPT is that you can always adjust your prompt and ask further questions. If bubbles are not suitable for indoors, you can ask for indoor games only.
In summary, AI is likely to revolutionize how we create content and use it. Google already issued a red alert about Chat GPT, signaling the concerns they have over its impact on their search business. Now Microsoft is expected to start eating away at Google’s market share. Just last month, another 200 new tools utilizing AI were introduced, so it is safe to say that AI is here to stay.
In my next few blog posts, I’ll write more about how you can utilize AI in marketing and e-commerce.