Brewing a cup of coffee using Siri and Grok was one of my biggest “AI & tech victories” of the year. (Please read below for a handful of more sophisticated versions of AI use.) Dedicated TGIF 2 Minutes readers may recall back in July the story that could happen to anyone — of being a guest at someone’s home and encounteringa cutting edge or overly sleek Nespresso machine lacking directions for brewing a cup of coffee without breaking the machine. In this case, I used AI to scan a photo of the machine and then consult Siri and Grok for instructions. Within seconds the precise type and model of coffee maker was identified, and 60 seconds later hot coffee was brewed in the cup.
Siri has been around for years on iPhones but newer AI (Artificial Intelligence) Assistants such as Grok, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot, among others, have had game-changing effects on seeking knowledge, composing speeches and presentations, giving advice and using time far more efficiently. There are still drawbacks and lingering hesitation — and at the same time, I constantly hear increasingly positive feedback from even the most skeptical friends and clients. AI assistants are being used personally and professionally– in the home, in business, education, consumer decisions, in churches and government…the list goes on.
A bit of bravery and patience is required in trying any AI assistant! Keep in mind that AI apps are available in both free and paid versions. Consider trying free versions to experiment. (Trying free versions was one of the best pieces of advice I was given early in 2025.) Paid versions offer greater functionality and allow inquiries to be saved for future reference. I eventually found it worth the cost to pay for at least one or two AI assistants.
Possibly the most time-saving and popular type of AI assistant has been the AI note taker. AI note taker apps are a specific type of AI assistant. Popular note takers include Otter.ai, Krisp, Fireflies.ai and Notion, and they truly do make a difference in meetings for both professional and personal purposes. Note taker apps typically default to summing up the meeting into specific (mind-blowingly accurate) bullet points AND disseminating the notes via email to meeting attendees. If this last part is not preferable, then the note taker app can be set only to send notes to the person using the note taker.
Anything new — especially new technology — can be complicated and frustrating. On the positive side, consider how much the simple cell phone has evolved to a massively time-saving and convenience-adding tool. YET– cell phones have not entirely replaced face-to-face communication for those who desire in-person interaction — and who want to encourage in-person interaction amongst their kids and friends. The same goes for AI: AI is meant to improve our lives, not replace human interaction and humans. Try it– and then try again. Use what works, then consult with others on what is working, ask for advice and be patient.
Just like investing and saving.