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🤫 24 AI Secrets Most People Miss. Are You Making These Mistakes?
Most people only use 10% of their AI's power. Learn 24 easy, specific methods to make AI a true personal assistant for your shopping, work, and life.
Neil Phan
November 05, 2025
How much do you really use AI? |
Table of Contents
Do you ever feel like you only use ChatGPT or Gemini for simple questions, like "What's the weather today?" or "Write me a short email"?
A lot of us do this. We use AI for basic things, but we miss out on many of its great abilities. After testing these tools every day for months, I learned that AI can be a personal assistant, a teacher, and a creative partner.
You don't need to be a tech expert to do this.
In this article, I will show you 24 real ways I have used AI to make my life easier, save hours of time, and help me get more done. These are simple tips that anyone can start using today.
Let's check them out.
Part I: Shopping And Daily Decisions
AI can help you become a much smarter shopper. Instead of spending hours searching, you can just ask and get a summary right away.
1. Find Similar Products From Other Brands
The problem: You really like a product (like a pair of shoes or a phone), but you want to see if another brand makes something better, cheaper, or with a feature you need.
The old way: You had to open 10 website tabs, read reviews, watch comparison videos, and make a table yourself.
The AI way: You just ask a simple question. AI will do all that research for you.
Example prompt:
"I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra phone. I love its camera and battery life. I want to get a new phone soon. Can you suggest 3 other phones (not from Samsung) that have a similar or better camera and battery? Please compare them on price, camera quality in low light, and charging speed."
Why this is great: AI will look at hundreds of reviews and specs to give you a short answer. You save time and get clear info to make a good choice.
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2. Know The Best Time To Buy Tech
The problem: The worst feeling is buying a new laptop, and then the next week, the company releases a new version for the same price.
The old way: You had to search for the product's "release history" and try to guess when the new model was coming.
The AI way: AI can check the "product cycle" for most big companies.
Example prompt:
"I am thinking about buying an iPad Air. When was the current model released? How often does Apple usually update the iPad Air? Based on rumors and past releases, do you think a new model will come out in the next 3 months? Should I buy it now or wait?"
Why this is great: You get a very good guess. AI will tell you if waiting is a good idea, or if the current product is still great and has a good price.
3. Find Discounts And Special Sales
The problem: You want to buy something expensive (like a coffee machine or a TV) but don't know if you should wait for a big sale like Black Friday.
The old way: You just wait and hope.
The AI way: AI can search for historical price data from articles and shopping forums.
Example prompt:
"I want to buy the Sony A90J TV. Based on data from past sales (like Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day), how much percent does this TV's price usually drop? Is it likely to be on sale during the next big sale?"
Why this is great: This helps you plan your shopping. AI will tell you something like, "Based on the last 3 years, this model usually gets a 20-25% discount on Black Friday. It is a good idea to wait."
Part II: Home And Food
Don't let small problems at home make you upset. AI can be your instant helper.
4. Quick Tech Support For Home Devices
The problem: Your printer suddenly stops working. Your microwave shows a weird error. Your home Wi-Fi is slow.
The old way: You look for the user manual (which you already lost), or you call customer support and wait for 30 minutes.
The AI way: AI is like a user manual for ALL devices, and it can talk.
Example prompt:
"My LG front-load washing machine (model WM3400CW) suddenly stopped and is showing the error code 'dE'. What does this mean? Please give me 5 specific steps, in order, to check and fix it myself."
Why this is great: 90% of the time, it's a simple problem (like the door isn't closed right, or the filter is blocked). AI helps you fix it in 5 minutes instead of paying for a repairman.
5. Find Ingredient Substitutes While Cooking
The problem: You are in the middle of cooking and find out you are missing an important ingredient (example: the recipe needs butter, but you only have olive oil).
The old way: You panic, call a friend, or run to the store.
The AI way: AI is your great cooking partner.
Example prompt:
"I am making banana bread and the recipe asks for 1/2 cup of brown sugar, but I don't have any. I have white sugar and some honey. How can I replace it? Do I need to change the amounts of other ingredients?"
Why this is great: AI doesn't just say "yes" or "no." It will teach you how to adjust. For example: "You can use 1/2 cup of white sugar, but add 1 tablespoon of honey to get a similar taste and moisture."
6. Identify Bugs And Plants
The problem: You see a strange bug in your kitchen or a weird plant in your garden, and you don't know what it is or if it's bad.
The old way: You try to describe it on Google ("small black bug with wings").
The AI way (with image input, like Gemini or the paid version of ChatGPT):
Example prompt:
"I found this bug on my windowsill. What is it? Does it bite people or damage my house? Do I need to worry?"
Extra tip: This works great for plants, too. "I saw this plant in my yard. Is this a weed or a flower?"
Part III: Organizing Work And Life
This is where AI really helps. It can automate boring tasks and help you work smarter.
7. Research Home Or Office Prices
The problem: You want to rent an apartment or an office in a new area and don't know what a "fair" price is.
The old way: You call dozens of real estate agents, and they all give you different prices.
The AI way: AI can search and summarize the average prices from rental websites.
Example prompt:
"I'm looking to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, near the Thao Dien area. What is the average monthly rent for a modern apartment (with a gym and pool)? Please compare this area to District 7 in price and conveniences."
Why this is great: You get a good overview of the market. When you talk to an agent, you know what you are talking about and won't pay too much.
8. Create Document Templates From Your Old Work
The problem: Every week, you have to write the same type of report, email, or document. The structure is always similar.
The old way: You copy and paste from an old file, then delete the old content and add new content. It's easy to make mistakes.
The AI way (with file upload):
Example prompt:
"Here are 3 weekly progress report emails I sent to my client. (Upload 3 .txt or .pdf files).
Please analyze their structure and create a new email template for me. This template should have these main sections: [This Week's Summary], [Tasks Completed], [Problems We Had], and [Plan for Next Week]. Keep the tone professional but friendly, like in my examples."Why this is great: AI learns YOUR writing style. Next time, you just ask AI, "Fill in the weekly report template with this information..." and it will do 90% of the work for you.
9. Manage Your Calendar With Normal Language
The problem: You hate opening your calendar app, clicking the day, the time, adding a title... just to create one event.
The old way: You do it by hand.
The AI way:
Example prompt:
"I need to find 2 hours of free time in my calendar next week for deep work. Please find two time slots (one in the morning, one in the afternoon) when I have no meetings and automatically add an event called 'Deep Work' to my calendar."
Another prompt: "When am I free this week for a 30-minute meeting with John?"
Why this is great: You just give commands like you are talking to an assistant, and AI will check and schedule it for you.
10. Book Travel With Details
The problem: Finding a hotel or Airbnb you like takes a lot of time filtering (price, location, reviews, extras...).
The old way: You spend all evening clicking filter boxes and looking at hundreds of results.
The AI way:
Example prompt:
"I need to find 5 Airbnb options in New York for 2 people, from December 10th to 12th. My needs are: must have a balcony with a good view, a small kitchen, a rating above 4.8 stars, and cost less than $5000 per night. Please give me the direct links."
Why this is great: AI does the boring filter work. You can keep asking more: "Of those 5 options, which one is closest to the night market?"
11. Use Maps In A Smarter Way
The problem: Google Maps is great for directions, but it doesn't help you plan.
The old way: You find directions on Maps, then open another app to find a restaurant.
The AI way:
Example prompt:
"I am driving from Saigon to Vung Tau. Please find me a good 'banh khot' restaurant with high ratings that is on my route or not too far off the main road. I want to stop for lunch. Please tell me the address and guess how many extra minutes it will add to my trip."
Why this is great: AI combines many steps (find directions + find a place + calculate time) into one single question.
12. Find A Restaurant Based On The "Vibe"
The problem: Sometimes you don't just want "Italian food." You want a specific experience.
The old way: You search for "romantic Italian restaurant" and hope for the best.
The AI way: Describe the exact feeling you want.
Example prompt:
"I need to find a coffee shop in California to work at on Tuesday afternoon. Requirements: it must be quiet, have good Wi-Fi, many power outlets, and also sell snacks. The space should have a lot of natural light."
Why this is great: AI will read other customer reviews to find keywords like "quiet" or "power outlets" and suggest the best place for you.
Part IV: Fun And Creativity
This is the fun part. AI can help you make new things, even if you are not an artist.
13. Control Music Based On Your Mood
The problem: You want to listen to music, but you don't know the exact song or playlist name.
The old way: You just pick a random playlist on Spotify.
The AI way (with a Spotify plugin):
Example prompt:
"I'm having a nice dinner with friends. Please create a playlist of soft jazz music, with no words, but still has a happy feeling, not sleepy. Start playing it now."
Another prompt: "I'm exercising and need motivation. Play some music that is very energetic with a fast beat!"
14. Write Better Prompts For AI Video Tools
The problem: Video creation tools like Sora are powerful, but if your prompt is bad, the result is bad.
The old way: You try again and again and feel disappointed.
The AI way:
Example prompt:
"I want to write a prompt for a video AI. My idea is 'a cat chasing a butterfly in a field.'
Please help me rewrite this prompt with a lot of detail. Describe: the camera angle (example: slow-motion, close-up shot), the time of day (example: early morning), the light (example: soft sunlight), and the feeling (example: happy, pure)."
Why this is great: AI helps you "speak" the language of the video AI, so you get a much better result.
The problem: You need a picture for your blog post or Instagram post, but you don't know how to design.
The old way: You use boring stock photos.
The AI way (like Midjourney, or DALL-E in ChatGPT):
Example prompt:
"Please create an image for my blog post about '5 tips for working from home.' I want the image to be in a simple cartoon style (flat design), with bright colors (blue, yellow). It should show a person sitting at a desk, with a window and a plant next to them."
Why this is great: You get a unique picture that matches your idea in seconds. You don't need to hire a designer.
16. Picture Your Dream Home
The problem: You have an idea for your dream house or room, but it's hard to describe to an architect.
The old way: You try to find pictures on Pinterest.
The AI way (image generation):
Example prompt:
"Create a picture of a living room. I want it to have a 'Scandinavian' design style: white walls, light wood floors, a soft grey sofa, and many green plants. The light should be natural, coming from a big window."
Extra tip: You can continue: "Great. Now show me the view from the kitchen looking into that living room." You can create a full tour of your dream house.
17. Try Creative Styles With Your Photo
The problem: You just want to... have some fun.
The old way: You use simple filters.
The AI way (with image upload):
Example prompt:
(Upload a photo of yourself)
"Please turn this photo into a Pixar movie character. Keep my main features but change the art style."
Another prompt: "Turn this photo into an 80s rock music album cover."
18. Draw Together With AI
The problem: You have an idea, but you are bad at drawing.
The old way: You give up.
The AI way (like in Google AI Studio):
How it works: You draw a simple picture (example: a circle and some sticks). You tell AI,
"This is a sunflower."AI will instantly change your drawing into a beautiful sunflower, but it keeps the same position you drew.
Why this is great: It lets people who can't draw quickly show their ideas.
Part V: Deep Research And Analysis
If you need to learn a lot about a topic, AI is your 24/7 researcher.
The problem: You want to know what people are saying about a topic, a brand, or an event.
The old way: You read hundreds of posts yourself.
The AI way (like Perplexity):
Example prompt:
"Analyze the conversations on X (Twitter) in the last 7 days about the new 'Godzilla x Kong' movie. Are people saying positive or negative things? What did they like most and what did they complain about most?"
Why this is great: You get a summary of public opinion in seconds. This is very useful for marketing, research, or just if you are curious.
20. Turn Boring Documents Into Interesting Content
The problem: You have to read a 50-page PDF or a very boring school paper.
The old way: You try to read and fall asleep.
The AI way (like NotebookLM):
How it works: You upload that document. Then, you can ask AI to do amazing things.
Example prompt:
"Please create a short podcast script (5 minutes) with 2 hosts. They are discussing the main ideas from this document. Please explain the hard ideas in simple language."
Why this is great: This changes learning from passive (reading) to active (listening, watching). It helps you understand and remember the information better.
21. Analyze Video Content In Detail
The problem: You have a 2-hour long lecture video, and you only need to find one specific piece of information.
The old way: You have to fast-forward and rewind, trying to listen.
The AI way (like Genspark):
Example prompt:
"Here is a link to a history lecture video. Please find the exact time (timestamp) when the professor starts talking about the 'Industrial Revolution' and summarize the 3 main points he makes in that part."
Another prompt: "In this cooking video, please list all the ingredients and the amounts the chef uses."
22. Translate Videos To Other Languages (With Lip-Sync)
The problem: You have a good video in English and want to share it with your family (who only speak Vietnamese), or you want your content to reach people everywhere.
The old way: You add subtitles.
The AI way (like HeyGen):
How it works: You upload your original video (example: you speaking English). You choose the new language (example: Spanish).
The result: AI creates a new video where you are speaking Spanish perfectly. It keeps your voice tone, and (this is the magic part) AI will change your mouth movements to match the Spanish words.
Why this is great: It breaks the language barrier in an amazing way.
Part VI: Extra Ideas For Work
23. Write Professional Documents (Like A CV)
The problem: You hate writing a CV (resume) or cover letter. It's hard to "sell" yourself.
The old way: You look at a blank page and don't know where to start.
The AI way:
Example prompt:
"Here is my old CV (paste your CV). And here is the job description for a 'Marketing Specialist' I want to apply for (paste the job description).
Please help me rewrite the 'Work Experience' section of my CV to focus on the skills this job needs. Then, write a short, professional cover letter explaining why I am the right person for the job."
Why this is great: AI is very good at "matching" your skills to what the company is looking for.
24. Automate Repetitive Tasks
The problem: There are tasks you have to do over and over. For example: writing 5 social media posts every week.
The old way: You do it by hand and feel bored.
The AI way:
Example prompt:
"I have a cooking blog. This week I posted a new article about 'How to make sourdough bread.'
Please help me write 3 posts for X (Twitter) and 1 longer post for Facebook to promote this article. The posts should ask people to click the link and try the recipe."
Why this is great: You just give the main idea (the new blog post), and AI does the boring writing part.
Where Will You Start?
We just went through 24 ways to use AI. You don't need to try all of them right now. That's impossible.
My advice is: Pick 1 or 2 ideas from this list that you think can solve a real problem you have.
If you are planning to buy something expensive, try Part I, item 1 or 2.
If you cook often, try Part II, item 5.
If you hate scheduling, try Part III, item 9.
Try it this week. See how it works. When you feel comfortable, try another one.
The goal is not to become an AI expert. The goal is to let AI do the boring work for you, so you have more time for the things that are really important - whether that's your job, your family, or your hobbies.
Happy testing!
If you are interested in other topics and how AI is transforming different aspects of our lives or even in making money using AI with more detailed, step-by-step guidance, you can find our other articles here:
Mastering Midjourney V6: 8 Insider Prompting Tricks That Feel Illegal to Know*
Fully Detailed & Powerful Instruction That Drive Custom GPTs/ Projects/ Gems
Easy Guide to Writing Effective Al Prompts for Better Results*
Stop "Prompting" AI Coding Assistants! Do THIS Instead
*indicates a premium content, if any
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