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AI we use every day

You may not recognize everyday AI uses when browsing the web. Learn more about common AI uses in transportation, healthcare, and other industries.

By: Thomas Broderick, Edited by: Rebecca Munday

Published: June 12, 2025


A cheerful young woman uses a smartphone voice assistant in a lively, social setting. She smiles confidently as she interacts with her device, surrounded by a bustling environment.

A January 2025 Gallup report reveals that most Americans don't know they use AI every day. At the same time, over 70% of Gallup respondents hold negative views about AI's role in spreading misinformation and replacing workers.

Learning about everyday AI uses can make you an informed AI user and help protect you against the technology's potential downsides.

Explore common AI uses, how emerging technologies improve automation, and how you can use AI responsibly.

How are people already using AI every day?

It's easy to miss how AI is used in everyday technology. AI often works behind the scenes in your favorite programs and applications.

To understand how much people use AI daily, edX interviewed Jeff Le, managing principal at 100 Mile Strategies. Le's extensive experience in emerging technologies gives him valuable insights into common AI uses.

Basically any application that you use right now is applying layers of artificial intelligence and data, whether it's your banking application, your Yelp food recommendations, or any sort of application that provides you services and suggestions, Le told edX.

Curated content and recommendations

AI gets to know you based on the websites you visit, the social media you use, and the products or services you buy. Like a person, AI makes assumptions about you based on your actions. These assumptions help the technology suggest specific content and services you may enjoy.

Some AI applications go beyond recommending content. For example, retail AI technology may use dynamic pricing to increase the likelihood that you purchase a product or service.

If it knows that you go to Target on Tuesdays, they're going to give you a coupon to go to Target on Wednesdays too, Le said.

AI may also use notifications and other targeted content to push you toward the checkout page.

Transportation and navigation

AI plays an important role in getting you around town. Popular apps such as Google Maps use AI to predict traffic and offer you the fastest route.

AI benefits public transportation providers as much as it does passengers. Phone location data offers a wealth of information regarding passenger habits.

They're taking in and analyzing all the information in real-time, collecting where someone goes on the metro and where they get out. What are their patterns and behaviors? What does that mean for potential fare increases? Le said.

In other words, public transportation providers may use AI to adjust fares based on usage.

Healthcare

Despite privacy and ethical concerns, AI advocates see great potential for the technology in the healthcare industry. AI already:

  • Helps doctors diagnose diseases early
  • Assists with drug development
  • Cuts administrative costs

Nearly all clinics and hospitals may use AI for healthcare delivery in the near future.

These same advances may soon filter down to social services, remarked Le. Any person that is operating and using social services now is increasingly using elements of artificial intelligence.

How do the emerging AI technologies work compared to older models?

Traditional AI technology uses advanced algorithms to make predictions based on user input. Responses come solely from existing content, such as a list of products you may want to buy.

Newer, generative AI also responds to user input but can go one step further by creating new content. Le notes that, there is a predictive component now that's not what existed before. Instead of analyzing your reading habits and recommending a new book, generative AI might write a new book in the style you enjoy.

Large language models (LLMs) drive this predictive component. Programmers train LLMs on millions of websites, books, and other written information so the technology can recognize patterns and use these insights to develop seemingly new work.

LLMs also power AI agents, a tool businesses use to automate routine jobs and enhance productivity.

How to use AI responsibly in your everyday life

While AI may offer many benefits, it also poses certain challenges. Humans still represent a key vulnerability in technology, Le shares. You could have the best tools ever, but if people don't know how to use them properly or securely, they can do bad things.

In other words, it's up to you to educate yourself about everyday AI uses so you can minimize your AI risk exposure.

According to Le, using AI responsibly and protecting your information starts with using strong passwords. Other suggestions include:

  • Changing your passwords regularly
  • Setting alerts for password leaks and breaches
  • Updating operating systems and security
  • Educating family members about AI risks

Le refers to these kinds of tasks as cyber hygiene. By performing them regularly, you can use AI safely and responsibly.


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