“AI For Life,” Amazon, from FREE to $22.74, depending on format
Why did I read this? Celia Quillian’s “AI for Life” is unique (to me at least) in that it shows you how AI can be used in practical situations in your everyday life, no matter who you are, how old you are, or what you do/don’t do for a living. It’s the AI book I would recommend to a retired grandma, a stay-at-home parent of small children (or their babysitter), or anyone NOT particularly inclined toward technology solutions to manage their lives. You know, the pad-and-pencil types you know.
If you’re an AI person (meaning, you’re the one telling people about all the crazy helpful stuff that chatgpt or Suno or Leonardo can do, and not the one being told), you’ve probably run into folks who are a hard sell. For the purposes of this review, we’re going to call that person Your Mom (because, you know, it might actually be your mom). If you’ve got an office job or any kind of tech job or you touch a computer at least once or twice a week, you probably already know how AI can affect your job (and, hopefully, not take it away from you entirely).
But Mom…Mom needs more convincing. My mom doesn’t work anymore, and her and my dad certainly aren’t creating software or automating anything in their lives. They still have a computer with a separate monitor, actually. This book is for them. Quillian provides a metric ton of practical examples: how to create personalized meal plans, how to generate grocery lists organized by store aisle, how to diagnose appliance problems, and even create custom bedtime stories for the grandkids complete with AI-generated illustrations. There are prompts for decluttering strategies, deep cleaning schedules, and auto/appliance maintenance reminders.
The career development chapter is extremely detailed, and while not for my mom, it’s definitely a gem for the non-technical younger folks in your life. It shows you how AI can help you make great resumes and cover letters, it can help you practice job interviews through role-play, negotiate salaries, etc. Personal finance applications are covered very nicely. How to optimize budgets, research major purchases, understand credit scores, evaluate investment opportunities, and even negotiate large expenses like medical bills or car purchases. Quillian shows readers how to create comprehensive financial plans and make informed decisions about everything from insurance to retirement planning.
The travel section transforms trip planning from tedious research into efficient preparation. Examples include generating personalized destination recommendations, creating detailed itineraries, researching local customs and safety tips, making packing lists, and even providing real-time translation assistance. The book shows how AI can help with everything from overcoming jet lag to finding hidden local gems.
Attention babysitters and grandparents! Perhaps most delightfully, the entertainment applications showcase AI’s creative potential. Quillian demonstrates how to create custom party games, generate writing prompts, play interactive story games, design unique party themes complete with decorations and menus, and even create personalized workout playlists. The children’s entertainment section includes craft ideas, educational activities, and custom Mad Libs templates.
Health and wellness? Covered: how to create fitness plans based on your needs, nutritional guidance, even emotional support and preparing for medical appointments. Dating & relationships? OK also not for Mom (I hope not anyway) but there are conversation starters, conflict resolution strategies, and gift-giving inspiration. Having trouble expressing your feelings? Spill it out in all its pathetically unorganized glory to AI, and it’ll spit you out something shiny and smart to send over to your significant other.
Quillian’s book is good stuff. Buy it for Your Mom.
