How To Use Generative AI in Daily Life and Work
By now, you’ve seen how generative AI works, how it compares to other types of AI, and what powers it under the hood. But what does it look like in practice?
This page explores real-world use cases, platforms, and tools that bring generative AI into everyday workflows. Whether you're a freelancer, business owner, educator, or curious creative, you'll find examples you can try out today.
Everyday Uses:
Beyond the Buzzwords
Let’s start with the basics, specifically, how people are already using generative AI in daily life:
- Writing
emails and replies
AI assistants in Gmail or Outlook suggest responses or even draft full emails based on a few bullet points. - Brainstorming
ideas
Tools like ChatGPT or Notion AI help generate content outlines, marketing slogans, or name ideas. - Summarizing
long text
Paste a report or transcript into a tool like Claude or ChatGPT and get a short, clear summary in seconds. - Explaining
complex topics
Want a plain-English summary of a legal clause or a physics principle? Generative AI can translate complexity into clarity. - Entertainment
and creativity
People use AI to generate stories, jokes, song lyrics, Dungeons & Dragons quests, or bedtime stories for kids. - Social
media support
Many creators use tools like Jasper or Writesonic to generate captions, hashtags, or content calendars.
These tools are increasingly embedded into apps you're already using. Canva, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Slack all now include AI-powered writing helpers.
Professional Uses by Role
Here’s how different professionals are integrating generative AI into their workflow:
Writers and Content Creators
- Blog post drafts
- SEO-optimized summaries
- Character development and story arcs
- Editing suggestions and headline testing
Developers
- Auto-generated code snippets or function templates
- Code translation (e.g., Python → JavaScript)
- Real-time code documentation
- Debugging help (e.g., GitHub Copilot)
Marketers
- Email sequences tailored to specific personas
- A/B testing content variations
- Social media ad copy
- Personalized CTAs
Educators and Students
- Curriculum planning and lesson outlines
- Summarizing research papers
- Language learning tools
- Study guides and flashcard generation
Therapists and Coaches
- Journaling prompts
- Guided visualization scripts
- Resource handouts customized by topic or audience
Which AI Tools are the Best for You?
When I first created this page, it was actually possible to list off the number of AI-related apps and tools that were suitable for any given task or job role. Except that list became bigger and bigger. It finally got to the point where I couldn't maintain any of those lists.
If you are reading this and wondering which tools are best for your particular job, task or project, one of the very best ways to get a list is to simply ask Google. But if you type in a query like "best AI tools for <whatever your goal>", Google will bring back a list of AI tools to help you achieve your goal. Some of those tools may require a subscription for extended use, but most tools provide a free trial or even a free tier, so that you can test it out. Try out several different tools and "test drive" them on your project, or even better, with several projects. Then you can decide for yourself which tool works best for your particular working style.
Want or Need to Learn More about AI Content Generation?
As many people are now figuring out, there is a lot more to AI than simply typing in a prompt and getting back perfect content. If you want an in-depth exploration of AI for content generation, check out my AI For Writers classes. These three classes, offering about 5 total hours' worth of instruction, will walk you through the process of using AI tools to accomplish a wide range of business, nonprofit, marketing, policymaking and advocacy writing projects. Written by a writer for writers, click here to learn more.
Recent Projects
NEW!
AI Content Generation Classes for Writers, Editors and Content Managers
Yes, I'm teaching now! I've created a comprehensive set of online training courses for professional writers, editors and content managers. Learn how AI content generation works, how to use it for various types of professional writing deliverables, and how to avoid various legal and ethical pitfalls.
Survey and Case Study: 2024 SEVA EV Owners and Drivers Survey
Excerpt: "To help provide real-world experience for prospective EV owners, the SEVA board of directors decided in early 2024 to commission a survey of its membership about their collective EV purchase and driving experiences. This survey was launched in March 2024 and featured 42 questions. It ran from mid-March to mid-April 2024 and gathered 74 responses from SEVA members. This report documents those responses, discusses reported trends, and helps place those trends within national EV trends and issues..."
Website Renovation:
Excerpt:
"First 1-100 mAh Rechargeable Solid-State Lithium Microbattery
A Better Battery for a Smarter, More Sustainable World.
Ensurge is enabling a new generation of wearables, hearables and energy harvesting IoT connected devices."
Sustainable Business Profile:
Aquaculture Companies Seek Profitability Through Sustainability
Virginia Economic Review, 2nd Quarter 2023 issue, pages 36-43
Excerpt:
"In 2001, when cousins Ryan and Travix Croxton took over their family's 100-year-old oyster bed leases on Virginia's Middle Peninsula, the Commonwealth's oyster industry was on life support. The traditional harvest method of dredging the floors of bays and estuaries had left waterways oxygen-poor and clogged with silt, and the region's native oyster, the Eastern oyster, seemed bound for the endangered species list. Contemporary estimates placed the species at barely 1% of its historic population."
Business Improvements Report:
Make The Most Of Your Parking Lot with Renewable Energy
Excerpt:
"Owners of companies and facilities managers are eager to maximize the potential of their buildings, however, they may be overlooking a valuable resource: the parking lot. The parking lot, which may initially be unappealing and costly, has the potential to become a valuable asset for the company. How can this transformation occur?
By incorporating electric vehicle (EV) chargers and solar panels into the parking lot infrastructure, you can unlock the otherwise untapped potential of your parking lots."
Business Improvements Case Study:
Paying for Multifamily Utility Upgrades and Amenities
Excerpt:
"Owners and property managers of multifamily properties want to save money where possible and are now turning to smart appliances and energy-efficient upgrades to reduce monthly energy costs, as well as increasing revenue through the addition of EV charging stations as an amenity.
Before making these changes, it’s important to consider the cost of upgrades and determine what benefits you hope to gain."
Website FAQs:
Excerpt: Can heat pumps work for an entire house or business?
"The degree to which a heat pump can fulfill your needs at your home or business depends on its rating, whether it has a ducted or ductless air source (or ground source), the climate in your area, and the size of your home. A heat pump is rated according to its Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). Modern heat pumps have better coil designs and compressors, improved motors, and highly efficient fans, meaning excellent SEER ratings, high efficiency, and the ability to heat your home even when temperatures are below freezing."
EV White Paper:
Best Charging Options for your EV
Excerpt: "Are you new to the world of EVs, and not quite sure about all the terms, the practices, and the how-to's? This article will help introduce you to different kinds of EVs, different kinds of chargers, and how you can keep your EV on the road as cost-effectively as possible."
White Paper PDF:
Excerpt: "What are the benefits of becoming a member of the circular economy? The Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production lists these 10 benefits for any given business which makes the shift..."
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Kathryn Kerby
freelance technical writer
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