AI in common sense - Ep. 1 - AI Is Here and It Is Only Scary If We Do Nothing

AI is here and it is only scary if we do nothing

“Is AI scary? Yes, the future can get wild, but only if good people sit on the sidelines.”
That feeling is common among technologists today, and it is why lawmakers from Washington to Brussels are rushing to set clear rules.

From “What is the internet?” to “cannot live without it”

• In 1995 about fourteen per cent of U.S. adults used the internet and many experts called it a fad.
• By 2025 daily internet use tops ninety-three per cent of adults, and even a short outage sparks instant panic.
Social media followed the same path: heavy resistance at first, total adoption later. AI will likely follow the same curve.

Why everyday people need to speak up

• Unregulated AI is not a science fiction fear; it is a near-term risk. Analysts warn that a few bad actors armed with advanced AI can cause enormous damage.
• Regulation is moving quickly. Dozens of U.S. states debated AI bills in 2025, and the EU AI Act will roll out in stages starting in 2026. If citizens do not understand basic AI, lobbyists will decide the rules.

Your vote, your voice and your daily choices will shape how AI grows.

Three simple ways to use AI right now

1. Email helper
Prompt

“You are my friendly work assistant. Draft a short email (under 120 words) confirming our meeting on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Mention the agenda topic: ‘Q3 marketing plan.’ Add a warm opener, a polite close, and a single question to confirm if they need any materials in advance. Keep the tone upbeat but professional.”

-> McKinsey says most workers can reclaim one to two hours each day when AI drafts routine messages.

2. Ongoing money coach
Setup prompt (use once)

“You are my personal finance coach. I will share weekly spending by category and my income. Your job is to
• create a realistic budget that keeps my emergency fund growing by 200 dollars a month
• flag any unusual spikes or subscriptions I forgot
• suggest one small habit change each week that saves at least 25 dollars
Ask questions if you need more details. At the end of every week, give me a two-paragraph summary and a single action step.”

Weekly update prompt

“Here are my expenses for the past seven days:
Groceries 180, dining out 90, transport 45, streaming 25, random Amazon 60. Income this week 1 150. What do you see and what is my one action step for the coming week?”

3. Ongoing pocket therapist
Setup prompt (use once)

“You are a supportive mental-health companion, not a licensed professional. I will share daily reflections, moods, and stress triggers. Your goals:
• listen without judgment
• reflect back what you hear in plain language
• offer one grounding exercise or coping tip that fits the situation
• track themes you notice over time and gently remind me if patterns recur
If I mention any crisis language, tell me to contact a human professional right away.”

Daily check-in prompt

“Check-in for 10 June. Mood: 5 out of 10, felt anxious before a client call, better after a walk. Trigger was a tight deadline. Please reflect, suggest a short breathing exercise, and note any pattern you see compared with earlier entries.”

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A prediction that might surprise you

Estonia already lets an AI system decide small-claims cases under seven thousand euro. Experts predict that by 2030 one in three traffic-ticket appeals worldwide will be resolved by AI. Paralegals who only file paperwork may disappear, while legal professionals who master AI will focus on strategy, negotiation and client care.

What you can do today

1. Use AI for email drafts, budgeting help or a late-night pep talk and judge its value yourself.
2. Spend ten minutes each week testing a new AI skill so you stay ahead of the curve.
3. Join public conversations about AI policy to make sure the technology evolves in a direction that benefits everyone.

A list of free tools, extra prompts and source links is pinned in the comments. Jump in, learn something new and help guide AI toward a brighter future.

Referral links