We all use AI multiple times daily, without even realising it.

It seamlessly integrates with our daily tasks and experiences – making some things easier, making other things possible.

But we don’t call any of that “AI”.

In fact, when the AI works as expected, it’s nearly always referred to by the product name or function, without any mention of AI. And when the AI is still innovative and the results more hit & miss? Well, that’s where I’ve observed the references to “the AI” come into play.

And I suspect that once these innovations mature and become part of our everyday, we’ll stop calling out the AI technology and start calling it something more functional. Three examples –

1. Google Maps uses machine learning to analyse real-time data to make recommendations about your journey. But have you ever heard someone call it “the AI” in everyday conversation? No, we say we’re “getting directions” or “looking up the location” or “Google Mapsing it”, not “using machine learning to analyse real-time data to retrieve a recommended route.” (What a mouthful that would be!)
2. Predictive text uses machine learning to analyse your typing patterns and make recommendations about what you might type next. And yet, no one refers to this experience as “the AI” in everyday conversation – in fact, I can’t recall having any conversations about predictive text.
3. Search engines, just like Google Maps, use machine learning to analyse real-time data about how users are engaging with similar searches to make recommendations. Also, when you start to type the search you’ve got predictive text (see point 2!). Set aside Google’s new-ish AI summary (which I’m loving, by the way), when’s the last time someone referred to using a search engine as “using AI-powered search to retrieve existing information”? Or the search results as “outputs of AI-powered search”? It’s much more likely one would say: “I’ll Google it,” or “Google say…”

Now, compare these thee examples to any conversations you’ve had about “text to…” creation (e.g. images from Adobe Firefly or text from Chat GPT) or AI-powered assistants (e.g. the help chat bots on brand websites). I’m willing to bet you’re referring to all of these as “the AI”… For now.

What’s your current favourite use of AI in day-to-day life? And which AI tool do you think will become the “Google” of the Large Language Models (LLM)?