15 Ways I Used AI to Increase Productivity in 2024
1. I used AI to help me program
I found ChatGPT (and not so much the other chatbots) was very helpful when coding some of the more rote parts of my projects. I used AI for common knowledge coding (API interfaces, for example), for writing CSS selectors, for writing regular expressions, and to test regular expressions, among other things.
2. I used AI to explain what a block of code does
A lot of modern programming involves working with code other people wrote. A lot also involves working with code you wrote years ago and don’t recall the details. A few times during my coding, I copied a block of code, pasted it into ChatGPT, and asked the AI what the code does. Usually, the AI will not only tell you what the code does, it will also break down the sections to help you dissect it.
3. I used AI to help me debug code
As I mentioned, the AI will tell you what a block of code does. That means you can feed an AI a block of code that might not work. I found that I could feed code and error messages to ChatGPT, and it would identify what I was doing wrong.
4. I used AI to help me do customer sentiment analysis
After doing a fairly measurable update to one of my products, I was concerned about whether or not users liked it or found it problematic. I get tech support requests, but not usually enough to gauge the sentiment of my user base. But I do capture users’ reasons for uninstalling my product, which gives me a big database of English language reasons and data fields.
5. I used AI to create images for my albums
One of the biggest ways AI adds value to my workflow is in graphics and video production. While I’ve been a fairly good creative director, I am not an illustrator. So, I found the ability to do text-to-image (and all the related graphics features) hugely helpful.
6. I used AI to fill and fix my photos
I take a lot of photos, some for myself and some as illustrations for my many projects. Some of those photos enter the camera perfectly composed, but most of them have something that needs to be cleaned up — whether it’s a bit of clutter in the background, a desk that doesn’t extend far enough, or distractions that take away from the image.
7. I used AI to generate vector graphics
When it comes to Adobe products, Photoshop is my daily driver. I use Illustrator, but mostly to resize and modify images from clipart libraries I’ve bought for use in giant PowerPoint presentations. I also use Illustrator to configure and set up cutting instructions for my Glowforge laser cutter, which handles PDFs quite nicely.
8. I used AI to generate monthly images for e-commerce
My wife Denise owns a small e-commerce business for people with a particular interest in a very popular hobby. She hosts a very active Facebook group, where one of the group’s favorite activities is creating monthly projects based on a theme she presents at the beginning of the month.
9. I used AI to auto-track me while filming
When a television actor or host moves around on set, there’s usually a camera operator who follows the motion. When you do your own YouTube videos, you’re pretty much on your own. Some of the biggest YouTube channels mimic TV set operations, but my channel is just me, some tools, and a bit of slightly cranky attitude.
10. I used AI for project research
For example, I needed to bend a piece of 1/4-inch thick aluminum 90 degrees for one of my projects. Different grades of aluminum are softer or harder and will either bend easily or require heat to avoid cracking.
11. I used AI to help me write articles in the bathroom
And in bed. And in the workshop. And while making eggs. And at the hardware store. And in a bunch of other places and circumstances.
12. I used AI to help improve 3D print quality
I actually used AI with 3D printing in two fairly different areas. One was analytics. I had a 3D test print (called a Benchy) that printed far faster using instructions straight from the factory than anything I was able to reproduce using standard software tools.
13. I used AI to fly my drone
Modern drones are amazing. Back in the day, I had a radio-controlled helicopter, which I crashed. A lot. Flying a helicopter is hard. You have no idea how hard it is until you try with an RC toy.
14. I used AI to dimension my 3D models
When I’m designing something to fit a real-world part, I spend hours to days taking caliper measurements, translating that into a 3D design, testing, printing, and redoing it.
15. I used AI to remove pauses and other waste in video clips
This process is very time-consuming, and it should be possible with a click of the mouse.
What I’d like AI to do for me in 2025…
The pinnacle of AI, for me, would be a robot that can go to the kitchen, brew and prepare a cup of coffee, and bring it to me on the couch. "Alexa, bring me coffee," should result in an actual cup of coffee, prepared exactly as I like it. Otherwise, what good is it to be living in the future?
Conclusion
AI has come a long way in the last few years, but it has a big future ahead as well. What have you used AI for in 2024? What do you want AI to be able to do for you next year? Have you used AI as a novelty, or have you integrated it into your regular workflow? Let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
Q: What AI tools do you use for programming?
A: I use ChatGPT for coding tasks.
Q: How do you use AI to explain what a block of code does?
A: I copy a block of code, paste it into ChatGPT, and ask the AI what the code does.
Q: What AI tool do you use to help you debug code?
A: I use ChatGPT to identify what I’m doing wrong.
Q: How do you use AI to generate monthly images for e-commerce?
A: I use Midjourney to create the image and often bring the image into Photoshop to further modify it.
Q: What AI tool do you use to help you write articles?
A: I use the Apple Watch’s Voice Recording app and the Adobe Enhance Speech tool to transcribe voice recordings.
