AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Google’s Gemini have quickly gone from novelty to genuinely handy. You don’t need to be technical to use them – if you can type a question, you can get started. Here are some everyday jobs they can help with.
Writing the letters and emails you keep putting off
Complaint to an energy company, a request for a refund, a polite but firm note to a builder who has gone quiet – describe what you want to say and ask the AI to draft it. Then read it through and make it sound like you before sending.
Making sense of confusing paperwork
Paste in the wording from a contract, policy or letter (leaving out personal details) and ask for a plain-English summary. It’s a quick way to spot the bits that matter, though for anything important it’s still worth checking with a professional.
Meal planning and shopping lists
Tell it what’s in the fridge, how many people you’re feeding and your budget, and ask for a week of meals with a shopping list. It’s surprisingly good at using up leftovers.
Planning and organising
Holidays, house moves, birthday parties, a weekly cleaning rota – ask for a checklist or a schedule and adjust it to suit. It takes the blank-page feeling out of getting organised.
A few sensible precautions
- Check the facts. AI tools can sound very confident while being completely wrong. Double-check anything important, especially figures, dates and anything to do with money or the law.
- Protect your personal details. Don’t paste in bank details, passwords or other sensitive information.
- Keep your own voice. Use the draft as a starting point, not the finished article.
Used well, AI won’t run your life for you, but it can hand you back a bit of time each week – and that’s an upside worth having.
This article is general information, not financial advice. See our Disclosure & Disclaimer.