7 ways you might already use Artificial Intelligence in your everyday life

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is front and centre of recent technology advancements, and its rapid acceleration is continuing.

New applications are continually being created and are beginning to transform the way we live and work.

According to IBM, the definition of AI is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem-solving, decision-making, creativity, and autonomy.

It can be easy to write AI off as a topic for the big tech companies. It is also understandable for a certain level of suspicion about how safe it is. Futuristic images of robots taking over the world can often spring to mind when we’re talking about such advanced levels of technology.

But the reality is, AI will already be a part of your life, you just might not know it.

AI investment forms a big part of the government’s commitment to tech expansion

The true growth of AI has already been staggering. Forbes cites data showing that the number of AI companies in the UK alone has increased by 600%. The UK’s AI market was worth more than £72 billion in 2024, a figure expected to rise to £1 trillion by 2035.

In its latest Spending Review, the government placed a clear emphasis on technology development.

Outlined in techUK, the government has pledged £2 billion for AI until 2029/30, to deliver on their commitment to harness the transformative potential of AI. This investment will fund at least a 20-fold expansion of the UK’s AI Research Resource, backing UK AI companies to grow and scale through the new UK Sovereign AI Unit.

It’s clear that AI is very much going to be an important part of our futures. But how is it part of our present?

Here are seven ways you’re very likely already using AI, maybe without even realising it.

1. Your digital assistant

If you have a smartphone or a laptop, you might take advance of the digital assistant features, such as Siri, Cortana, or Alexa. All these use machine learning to hone their performance and improve their understanding.

2. Search engines

Using a popular search engine like Google, Yahoo, or Bing means you’re interacting with AI. When you type your query into Google’s search box, for example, the auto-complete function is generated by an AI algorithm.

These algorithms are used to refine your results, and create the “People also ask” section on Google, with related queries appearing.

These tools can be very helpful in providing a summary to save you searching. However, it is worth noting the phenomenon referred to as AI hallucinations. There are reported examples of AI confidently presenting fiction as fact.

This can be particularly problematic when obtaining financial information and if in doubt, please verify the accuracy by seeking advice before committing to a plan of action.

3. Online shopping

Have you ever noticed how, after making an online purchase, your product recommendations change to reflect this? Lots of online shopping and e-commerce platforms use AI for this, helping to improve their customer experience.

You can also get shipping and tracking estimates, and help and advice from chatbots, which also harnesses AI technology.

4. Healthcare

Although you may not directly use this technology, you may have benefited from it. Predictive software can analyse data and predict the chances of a patient developing a disease, helping with early diagnosis or even prevention.

Predictive analytics can also model the potential spread of contagious diseases.

5. Fraud detection

Most major banks use AI for fraud detection and prevention, analysing transactions and flagging anything that moves beyond “normal” parameters. This means they can alert you early, mitigating or preventing loss.

6. ChatGPT and text editing

More and more people are turning to ChatGPT, a chatbot that offers a fast response, engages in conversation, and can also generate text.

A word of warning to any students in your family, however – according to University World News in 2023, 8 out of 24 of the Russell Group universities banned ChatGPT, while others were reviewing their plagiarism policies.

7. Navigation

Many major transportation, navigation, and direction apps such as Google Maps and Apple Maps rely on AI for real-time data about traffic conditions, delays, congestion and weather conditions, to offer you the quickest or most convenient routes.

Aircraft also frequently use AI too, with an autopilot that factors in weather conditions and flight data to chart the course.

Get in touch

If you’d like to talk to us about any aspect of financial planning, email us at info@harperlees.co.uk or call 01277 350560, and we’ll be very happy to help.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.