Most people discover AI through the obvious use cases — writing emails, answering questions, summarising documents. But scratch the surface and the range of what these tools can handle is genuinely surprising. Here are ten things worth trying that most beginners never think of.
1. Proofread and improve your writing Paste any piece of writing and ask for specific feedback. Not a full rewrite — just targeted suggestions. It’s like having a sharp-eyed editor on call around the clock.
2. Explain your legal or financial documents Confused by a contract, lease agreement, or insurance policy? Paste the relevant section and ask for a plain-English explanation. Always verify with a professional for important decisions, but AI can give you a solid starting understanding.
3. Prepare for a difficult conversation Ask AI to help you think through a tricky discussion — with a boss, a client, or a family member. Describe the situation and ask for advice on how to approach it. The perspective it offers is often genuinely useful.
4. Learn a new skill step by step Ask it to teach you something from scratch — photography basics, how to read a balance sheet, beginner guitar chords. Request that it starts simple and checks your understanding as it goes.
5. Generate ideas when you’re stuck Writer’s block, business brainstorming, gift ideas, holiday planning — AI is an excellent thinking partner when your own creativity has stalled. Give it context and ask for ten options. You won’t use all of them but one will usually spark something.
6. Translate and adapt content for different audiences Not just between languages — ask it to rewrite something technical in plain language, or take a casual piece and make it formal. It handles tone and register surprisingly well.
7. Create a personalised plan Meal plans, workout routines, study schedules, budget frameworks — give AI your constraints and goals and ask for a structured plan. It won’t know your exact circumstances but it gives you a solid starting framework to adapt.
8. Analyse and interpret data Paste a table of numbers, a spreadsheet excerpt, or survey results and ask what patterns it sees. It can spot trends, flag anomalies, and summarise findings in plain language without you needing to touch a formula.
9. Role-play a scenario for practice Ask it to act as a difficult customer, a job interviewer, or a debate opponent. Practising challenging conversations in a safe environment before the real thing is an underrated use of AI.
10. Summarise a long video or podcast Find a transcript of a YouTube video or podcast episode, paste it in, and ask for a concise summary of the key points. Saves hours of listening time when you just need the essentials.
The bottom line
AI tools are far more versatile than most beginners realise. The best way to discover what they can do for you specifically is to approach them with genuine curiosity — and ask them anything.
AI Today on The Argus Report covers tools, tips, news and insights from the world of artificial intelligence. New posts several times a week.
