AI in Everyday Life: Surprising Ways Tech Leaders Use It

The world of artificial intelligence might seem like a realm of complex, futuristic applications, but for some of the biggest names in tech, AI is all about the basics. Take Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. You might expect him to use AI for cutting-edge tasks, but he's more likely to ask it to help him sort through emails or summarize documents. It's a simple yet effective use of the technology. Altman isn't alone in this. Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, uses AI to draft his first emails. Meanwhile, Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, relies on AI to keep his inbox in order. These leaders are at the forefront of the AI industry, but their daily use of the technology is surprisingly straightforward. They use AI for tasks like generating ideas, gathering information, and automating simple jobs. This is true for many people, not just CEOs. A Gallup survey from last year showed that these are the most common uses of AI. So, what's next for AI? According to Altman, the future lies in "agents" that can handle complex tasks with a single command. OpenAI has already launched a feature called Operator, which can plan vacations, fill out forms, and even order groceries. Google has also jumped into the game with its own agentic AI product. Other tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Anthropic are reportedly developing their own versions. Altman envisions these agents becoming so capable that they could handle most tasks a software engineer could do, but they'll still need human guidance. It's a big leap, but it's not happening overnight. Only about 13% of U. S. employees currently use AI at work, according to a recent report. So, while AI is already making waves, it's still early days for widespread adoption. If you're eager to get ahead, there are plenty of resources available. For example, CNBC offers an online course on using AI to boost productivity. Plus, signing up for newsletters can provide tips and tricks for success in work and life.