AI Essentials: 27 Ways to Make Gen AI Work for You
Expert Insights on Harnessing Generative AI for Productivity, Creativity, and Everyday Tasks
Introduction: Navigating the AI Revolution
Artificial intelligence has rapidly evolved from a futuristic concept to an everyday tool that's reshaping how we work, create, and solve problems. With the explosion of generative AI technologies like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and countless specialized tools, the possibilities seem endless—but so does the learning curve. How can you effectively harness these powerful technologies without getting overwhelmed? Our team of CNET experts has compiled this comprehensive guide featuring 27 practical ways to make generative AI work for you across various aspects of your life. From enhancing productivity and creativity to protecting your privacy and security, these expert-tested strategies will help you navigate the AI landscape with confidence and purpose. Whether you're an AI novice or looking to refine your approach, this guide offers valuable insights to help you make the most of these transformative tools.
AI tools can transform how you work, create, and solve everyday problems.
Getting Started with AI
Find the right AI tool for your needs
The AI landscape can be overwhelming with hundreds of tools promising to revolutionize your workflow. Rather than trying every new AI tool that appears, take time to identify your specific needs first. Are you looking to enhance your writing, generate images, analyze data, or automate repetitive tasks? Once you've clarified your requirements, research tools specifically designed for those purposes. The CNET AI Atlas provides a comprehensive overview of available AI tools categorized by function, making it easier to find the right solution for your specific needs. Remember that specialized tools often outperform general-purpose AI in their specific domains. For instance, if you need help with writing, tools like Grammarly or Hemingway might be more effective than a general AI chatbot for certain editing tasks.
The AI landscape offers specialized tools for nearly every task imaginable.
When evaluating AI tools, consider factors like ease of use, integration with your existing workflow, pricing model, and privacy policies. Many tools offer free tiers that allow you to test their capabilities before committing to a subscription. Don't hesitate to experiment with several options before settling on the ones that work best for you. The right AI tools should enhance your capabilities without adding unnecessary complexity to your workflow.
Master the art of prompt engineering
The quality of AI outputs depends significantly on how you communicate with the system. Prompt engineering—the art of crafting effective instructions for AI—can dramatically improve your results. Start by being specific and detailed in your requests. Instead of asking "Write me an email," try "Write a professional email to a potential client explaining our web design services, emphasizing our experience with e-commerce sites, and requesting a 30-minute consultation call." The more context and specificity you provide, the better the AI can tailor its response to your needs.
Effective prompt engineering is the key to getting better results from AI tools.
Learn to use system prompts or role assignments to set the tone and style of responses. For instance, telling the AI to "Act as an experienced marketing professional specializing in social media campaigns" before asking for content ideas will yield more targeted results. Don't hesitate to iterate on your prompts—if you don't get the desired output, refine your instructions based on what worked and what didn't. Over time, you'll develop an intuitive sense for how to communicate effectively with AI systems, leading to more consistent and useful outputs. Remember that different AI models may respond differently to the same prompts, so you might need to adjust your approach when switching between tools.
Enhancing Productivity with AI
Automate home management tasks
AI can significantly streamline household management by automating routine tasks and providing organizational assistance. Use AI assistants like ChatGPT to generate customized meal plans based on dietary preferences, available ingredients, or nutritional goals. These tools can create shopping lists organized by store sections, estimate grocery costs, and even suggest recipes that minimize food waste by using ingredients you already have. For home maintenance, AI can help create personalized cleaning schedules, seasonal maintenance reminders, and project planning guides for renovations or decorating.
AI assistants can help manage household tasks from meal planning to maintenance schedules.
Smart home systems with AI capabilities can learn your preferences and automatically adjust lighting, temperature, and security settings based on your habits and needs. Voice-activated assistants can manage shopping lists, set reminders, and control connected devices, freeing up mental space and reducing the cognitive load of household management. For families, AI tools can help coordinate schedules, assign chores, and track shared responsibilities. The key to successful home automation is starting small with one or two applications that address your most pressing needs, then gradually expanding as you become comfortable with the technology.
Optimize your financial planning
AI tools are revolutionizing personal financial management by providing sophisticated analysis and personalized guidance previously available only through expensive financial advisors. Use AI-powered budgeting apps to automatically categorize expenses, identify spending patterns, and suggest areas where you can cut costs. These tools can analyze your financial habits over time and provide actionable insights to help you save more effectively. For investment planning, AI platforms can assess your risk tolerance, financial goals, and time horizon to recommend diversified portfolios tailored to your specific situation.
AI-powered financial tools can provide personalized budgeting and investment guidance.
When preparing for tax season, AI tax assistants can help identify potential deductions, organize receipts, and ensure you're maximizing available tax benefits. For long-term financial planning, AI tools can simulate different scenarios—such as buying a home, saving for education, or planning for retirement—and show how various decisions might impact your financial future. Some platforms even offer AI-driven negotiation assistance to help reduce bills or secure better interest rates. While these tools provide valuable guidance, remember that they should complement rather than replace professional financial advice, especially for complex situations or major life decisions.
AI can analyze spending patterns and provide personalized financial recommendations.
Use AI to be more productive
AI can't do your job for you, but it can help you streamline your day so you have more time for important work. Some of the best ways to incorporate AI into your professional life without compromising on quality include using Microsoft Copilot to make notes for you on lengthy PDFs, using Zoom's AI Companion to summarize a meeting you've just had, and using Grammarly's AI boost to edit your emails, documents, and even social media posts. You can also ask Google's Gemini to summarize your Google Docs, use Prezi AI to create a slide deck, ask Motion AI to automatically plan and adjust your calendar each day, and get ChatGPT to soften your email voice.
Tools like Microsoft Copilot can help summarize documents and generate content.
Just remember to always double-check the information any AI tool provides. Even when all you've asked it to do is summarize a document, AI has been known to make up details that aren't accurate. The key to productive AI use is finding the right balance—letting AI handle routine tasks while you focus on work that requires human judgment, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Start by identifying repetitive, time-consuming tasks in your workflow that don't require much creative input, and experiment with AI solutions for those specific areas first.
Go job hunting using AI
Landing a new role is almost a competitive sport, and time-consuming. Enter AI, which is great at finding and summarizing information, rewording your work descriptions and providing suggestions. For instance, try using ChatGPT to write your resume, and Figma AI to visually design a resume that'll help you stand out. ChatGPT can also give you suggestions for job roles, company types and career paths that align with your experience and goals, and can then churn out individualized cover letters for all your applications. Then there are tools like Final Round AI, which will help you prep for a job interview with some practice rounds, and — once you've landed a job offer — AI chatbots can also help come up with a script to negotiate your starting salary.
AI can help optimize your resume, prepare for interviews, and negotiate offers.
Some caveats: Check all the details and wording AI suggests for your resume and cover letters, to make sure it hasn't hallucinated and lied on your job application. Also, be sure not to put any sensitive or personally identifiable information into a chatbot, just in case there's ever a data breach. When using AI for job hunting, focus on using it to enhance your authentic professional story rather than creating a generic application. The most effective approach combines AI efficiency with your unique human perspective, experiences, and voice.
AI for Security and Privacy
Check for plagiarism with AI
If you're a teacher, you've likely received essays that read too safe and predictable, as if a machine was trying to emulate how people write. For good reason: There's a chance it was written by AI. It's happening in job applications, emails and blog posts, too. The phenomenon exploded after ChatGPT's debut in 2022. So you need to be on the lookout, but also be careful not to accuse people of using AI without some evidence. Luckily, there are AI plagiarism-checkers, some free and some paid, that can help. One that stands out to me is Copyleaks, which has been around since 2015. Or click on the link here to read how one CNET contributor, a professor of strategic communications, catches — or deters — cheaters in her classes.
AI plagiarism detection tools can identify content likely generated by AI systems.
When using these tools, it's important to understand their limitations. No AI detection system is perfect, and false positives can occur. The best approach is to use these tools as one part of a broader assessment strategy rather than relying solely on their verdict. For educators, combining technological detection with assignment design that requires personal reflection, in-class components, or unique perspectives can be more effective than detection alone. For content creators and businesses, establishing clear policies about AI usage and attribution can help maintain transparency and trust.
Keep your data safe while using an AI chatbot
Anything entered into a large-language model becomes part of it. And once that happens, there's really no way to claw back that data. For that reason it's important you keep your private information out of those systems as much as possible. AI security practices are still in their infancy. Experts are still trying to figure out the best ways to secure this kind of software. Accidental leaks can happen, and just like any other system, AI ones can be breached and their data stolen. Obviously, you can never completely control what companies and other groups do with your data, but you can avoid handing over personal details when you use an AI-powered system. Think twice before getting too personal with a LLM and never give it your most private data like your Social Security number or banking information.
The Leonardo AI image generator might not understand "cottage core coastal grandma," but it does understand the rustic feel with blues and warm light.
When using AI services, review their privacy policies to understand how your data is stored, processed, and potentially shared. Consider using more privacy-focused AI alternatives when available, and be aware that different services have different approaches to data retention. For sensitive work-related content, check if your organization has approved AI tools with appropriate security measures. Remember that even seemingly innocuous information, when combined with other data points, can potentially reveal more than you intended. The best approach is to treat AI interactions with the same caution you would use when sharing information on any digital platform.
Creating with AI
Pick the best AI generator for you
Creating unique and personalized art is easier and quicker than ever, thanks to generative AI. AI image generators use text-to-image tech that lets you bring your artistic visions to life with simple text prompts. But not every AI image generator is created equal, and not all will be right for your project, needs and budget. Our top pick is Dall-E 3 by OpenAI, with its conversational flow and detailed renderings. If you're looking for a beginner-friendly program, Leonardo.Ai is great, and professionals might want to play around with Adobe's Firefly model. Check out our full rankings and reviews via the link below to learn how to pick the best program for you.
AI image generators can create stunning visuals from simple text descriptions.
When selecting an AI image generator, consider factors beyond just output quality. Think about the user interface and how intuitive it is for your workflow, pricing structure (pay-per-image vs. subscription), image rights and licensing terms, and whether the tool allows for fine-tuning or editing of generated images. Some platforms specialize in specific artistic styles or use cases, so identifying your primary creative goals can help narrow down the options. Many services offer free trials or basic tiers, making it possible to experiment with different platforms before committing to one. As the technology evolves rapidly, staying informed about new features and improvements can help you make the most of these creative tools.
Write a perfect AI image prompt
To make the best AI images, you need to start with the right prompt. Prompts are the keywords or phrases you give the image generator to describe your artistic vision. Every prompt needs these three essential elements: the characters/elements, the setting and the image dimensions. From there, you can build out your prompt to be more descriptive. Think about what aesthetic or artistic style you want (photography, cartoon, anime) or what color palette you want.
Try to think holistically about your art: What emotion do you want to evoke? What's the end product you're looking for? If your generator lets you upload a style or reference image, be sure to take advantage of those tools. Every generator understands prompts differently, so take some time to get to know your service.
The most effective prompts balance specificity with room for the AI's interpretation. Being too vague ("beautiful landscape") will yield generic results, while being overly prescriptive can constrain the AI's creative potential. Experiment with including details about lighting (soft, dramatic, golden hour), perspective (close-up, aerial view), mood (serene, mysterious), and technical specifications (photorealistic, 8K resolution). Keep track of prompts that work well for you, and don't be discouraged by initial results—prompt crafting is a skill that improves with practice and experimentation.
Use the iPhone's Clean Up tool to remove distractions in photos
With iOS 18, Apple added a long-awaited feature (at least, long awaited by me) that lets you remove distractions from the background of your otherwise perfect shot, such as photobombers. Called Clean Up, it lives within Photos and uses AI to essentially erase whatever — or whoever — you want. If you have an iPhone 15 Pro model, iPhone 16 device or iPad or Mac with an M-series chip (essentially, a device that supports Apple Intelligence), you can access Clean Up by going to Photos, then tapping the three lines at the bottom right of the screen. Then, hit Clean Up.
Apple's Clean Up tool uses AI to remove unwanted elements from your photos.
From there, you can tap or circle what you'd like to remove. You can even pinch to zoom in and get closer, if there's something smaller you'd like to eliminate. And voila! You've got an Instagram-ready, distraction-free shot. This feature represents just one of many ways AI is being integrated into everyday photography tools to enhance images without requiring complex editing skills. Similar capabilities are available on various Android devices, with Samsung and Google leading the way in implementing AI-powered photo editing features directly into their native camera and gallery apps.
Fix a weird or wonky AI image
So, you've generated an image using AI, and it's just... not quite right. A weird flub in the background, a disappearing element, a person with three legs and 14 fingers — despite constant advancements, AI image generators aren't perfect. Mistakes (or hallucinations) like these are headaches I've had to deal with many times while testing and reviewing different AI generators. There's not one specific reason why your image didn't come out quite right, but I recommend starting at the beginning. Revisit your prompt to make sure it's addressing everything you want, and take out any conflicting instructions. Try not to use too many post-generation editing tools. Less is more. If that still isn't working, it might be time to start from scratch or even pick a different service.
When troubleshooting problematic AI-generated images, consider these additional strategies: Try breaking complex scenes into simpler components and generating them separately for later composition; experiment with negative prompts to explicitly tell the AI what you don't want to see; check if the AI model has known limitations with certain subjects (many struggle with hands, text, or specific architectural details); and for persistent issues, try using an image-to-image approach where you provide a rough sketch or reference image to guide the generation process. Remember that each AI model has different strengths and weaknesses, so what works well in one system might need a different approach in another.
Digging deeper
Remove or reduce AI features on your Samsung Galaxy phone
It's almost impossible to find a new phone that doesn't tout AI features. Unlike the Pixels and the iPhones of the world, Samsung gives you a lot of extra... everything. From preinstalled bloatware to its own app store that allows you extend the functionality of your phone, it's a lot. With so many features packed into Galaxy S phones, you may want to draw a line when it comes to AI. Until it becomes less gimmicky, at least. Luckily, Samsung also makes it fairly easy to turn off its built-in AI features — something we'd love to see Google allow you to do on its Pixel lineup.
But it's not just about turning AI off. You can be selective about what AI features you want and turn off the ones you don't. In this sense, Samsung's "extra-ness" pays off. If you're an iPhone user, you have your own set of options for turning off Apple Intelligence.
To manage AI features on your Samsung device, go to Settings and look for the "Advanced Intelligence" or "AI Features" section (the exact name may vary by model). Here you'll find toggles for various AI capabilities like predictive text, scene optimization in the camera, and Bixby routines. You can selectively disable features you find intrusive while keeping those you find useful. For more granular control, check individual apps like Gallery, Camera, and Samsung Keyboard, as they often have their own AI settings. Remember that disabling certain AI features may affect related functionality, so consider the trade-offs before making changes.
Find info using Circle to Search
Ever see something on your phone and wish you could just Google it, without having to leave the app that you're in? That's exactly what Circle to Search does. On your compatible Android phone, all you need to do is press and hold the home button, draw a quick circle around whatever caught your eye, and boom — Google gives you all the details you need.
Circle to Search lets you instantly look up information without switching apps.
It's great for quick product lookups, translating text, or just settling those "what is that?" moments. It started on newer phones, like the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8, but it's since rolled out to older models like the Galaxy S21 and Pixel 6. There's also a similar feature available in Google Chrome for the iPhone, in case you're team Apple.
This feature represents a significant evolution in how we interact with information on mobile devices, moving beyond the traditional app-switching workflow to a more contextual, in-the-moment search experience. As visual search technologies continue to improve, we can expect these tools to become more accurate and capable of recognizing an even wider range of objects, text, and concepts. For users who frequently need to look up information while using their phones, mastering Circle to Search or similar visual search tools can significantly streamline the mobile experience.
Use AI to spice up your photos on the Google Pixel 9
While the Pixel 9 series of phones pack superb cameras, the baked-in AI image editing tools let you easily take things further by adding or removing items from the frame. Start by opening an image in the library, then tap Edit, then tap the multicolored image icon tucked in the bottom left corner of the screen. This will bring up the AI-based Magic Editor.
In the tool, you can now tap on areas of your image — the sky, for example — or draw circles around certain objects to select them and then tap Reimagine. This will bring up a text box allowing you to type in your prompts of what you want to see. I might circle a section of empty, boring sky and type a prompt of "flock of birds" to add an extra element into the scene, or add some flowers to liven up a dull patch of grass. Each prompt will give you three options to choose from and you can press Redo to get a new set of results.
The Magic Editor represents just one facet of how AI is transforming mobile photography. Beyond adding or removing elements, AI on modern smartphones can enhance low-light photos, optimize colors and contrast based on scene recognition, suggest ideal compositions, and even combine multiple exposures to create images that would be impossible with traditional photography techniques. As these technologies continue to evolve, the line between photography and digital art creation becomes increasingly blurred, giving everyday users powerful creative tools previously available only to professional editors.
Conclusion: Making AI Work for You
As we've explored throughout this guide, AI tools offer remarkable potential to enhance productivity, spark creativity, and simplify complex tasks across nearly every aspect of life. The key to success lies not in trying to use every available AI tool, but in thoughtfully selecting and mastering the ones that address your specific needs and complement your existing workflows. Start small with one or two applications that solve real problems you face, then gradually expand as you become comfortable with the technology.
Remember that AI tools are most effective when they augment rather than replace human judgment and creativity. The most successful AI users maintain a balanced approach—letting AI handle routine, time-consuming tasks while focusing their own energy on work that requires human insight, emotional intelligence, and creative thinking. Always verify AI-generated information, especially for important decisions or public-facing content, as even the most advanced systems can make errors or present inaccurate information.
As AI technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, staying curious and adaptable will serve you well. The specific tools and techniques highlighted in this guide will undoubtedly change, but the fundamental principles of effective AI use—clear communication, critical evaluation, and purposeful application—will remain relevant. By approaching AI as a collaborative partner rather than a magical solution, you can harness its power to work smarter, create more freely, and solve problems more effectively in both your professional and personal life.
Ready to explore more AI tools and techniques? Check out our other guides and reviews to stay updated on the latest developments in artificial intelligence and how they can benefit your specific needs.
Harness the power of AI to work smarter, create better, and solve problems faster.
