AI is Everywhere
AI is everywhere in our modern world, and its presence is becoming more pervasive with each passing day. It seems there is hardly anything that doesn’t utilize Artificial Intelligence to some degree, from simple applications like virtual assistants that help manage our daily tasks to complex systems employed in critical industries such as healthcare, finance, art, and design.
The influence of Artificial Intelligence is rapidly expanding, affecting various aspects of our daily lives and transforming how we interact with technology. As we continue to integrate AI across domains, its potential to shape our future becomes increasingly apparent, raising both opportunities and challenges we must navigate together.
"AI is everywhere. It's not that big, scary thing in the future. AI is here with us,"
A quick Google search shows that Artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into a vast array of products, from everyday consumer electronics and software applications to specialized tools in industries like healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.
Consumer Products and Everyday Technology
- Smart Assistants: Voice assistants like Siri (Apple), Alexa (Amazon), Google Assistant (Google), and Microsoft Cortana use AI for voice recognition, answering questions, and controlling smart home devices.
- Navigation & Maps: Services like Google Maps and Apple Maps use AI to analyze real-time traffic data and user location to provide optimal routes and ETAs.
- Recommendation Engines: Platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, and Spotify use AI algorithms to suggest movies, products, or music based on your past behavior and preferences.
- Smart Home Devices: This includes items like the Roomba robotic vacuum, which uses AI to map rooms and navigate obstacles efficiently, and smart thermostats that learn your behavior to save energy.
- Smartphones & Wearables: Features such as facial recognition for device unlocking, autocorrect/predictive text, and fitness trackers that monitor health metrics all utilize AI.
Software and Online Services
- Generative AI Chatbots: Tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude generate human-like text, code, and images in response to user prompts.
- Text Editors: Software such as Grammarly and Gmail features use AI to check grammar, suggest sentence improvements, and predict text as you type.
- Search Engines: Search engines, including Google and Perplexity, use AI to interpret queries and provide relevant results or direct answers.
- AI Development Platforms: Companies such as NVIDIA, Google Cloud, and Microsoft offer platforms (e.g., NVIDIA AI platform, Google Cloud AI platform, Azure AI Foundry Agent Service) for developers to build and deploy their own AI applications.
Industry and Specialized Applications
- Healthcare: AI aids in early disease diagnosis, drug discovery, personalized treatment plans, and powering robotic arms for complex surgeries.
- Finance: Banks use AI for fraud detection by analyzing transaction patterns and for powering customer service chatbots.
- Autonomous Vehicles: Self-driving cars from companies such as Tesla and Waymo use a complex suite of AI systems and sensors to navigate roads and detect obstacles.
- Manufacturing & Robotics: AI-powered robots are used in automated warehouses for sorting and shipping products, and for specialized tasks like recycling and manufacturing.
- Cybersecurity: AI systems help recognize patterns of cyberattacks and automate responses to defend against threats.
AI-powered products are innovative, intelligent solutions that leverage AI capabilities to automate complex tasks, enhance critical decision-making, and create entirely new user experiences.
For instance, they can analyze data patterns to predict future trends and behaviors, providing users with invaluable insights.
These advanced technologies are used in a variety of applications, including virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, generative tools such as DALL-E and ChatGPT, navigation applications, healthcare diagnostics, fraud detection systems, and smart home devices.
Moreover, industries such as finance and marketing utilize AI-driven algorithms to enhance their strategic decision-making.
By streamlining processes, AI-powered solutions significantly improve efficiency across a wide range of activities, from content creation to everyday life.
As a result, businesses can optimize their operations, minimize costs, and deliver better services to their clients. They achieve this by continuously learning from vast amounts of data, mimicking human intelligence, and adapting to individual user preferences, thus making technology more accessible and beneficial for everyone. In conclusion, the integration of AI technology is transforming how we interact with the digital world and significantly advancing multiple sectors.
Who Is AI?
AI isn’t so much a who as it is a what — a lot of what owned by a lot of who. AI is a complex entity. While many people think of AI as a single father-like system, the reality is that there are tens of thousands of AI operating systems, all running at the same time, and counting.
"Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks."
The exact number of AI programs currently in existence is nearly impossible to determine accurately, because new ones are constantly being developed and introduced across various industries by both tech giants and innovative startups. Some estimates suggest that approximately 70,000 AI platforms operate globally, but this number is only a rough estimate and continues to grow as technology advances and new applications are discovered.
It is essential to recognize that the landscape of artificial intelligence is continually evolving, with frequent new developments, making it increasingly challenging to keep track of the total number of active AI programs.
The landscape of AI is vast and includes different types of programs with varying functions. Among them, neural networks have transformed how we analyze and interpret complex datasets.
Among these, notable examples include generative adversarial networks (GANs) that generate realistic images and content, and reinforcement learning systems that optimize decision-making processes.
A report from the International Data Corporation suggests that investments in AI could double by 2025, highlighting the increasing reliance on these technologies.
According to Google Search 01/07/25:
- General Platforms: Major companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon offer broad AI platforms and tools.
- Specialized Tools: Many programs specialize in specific areas, such as:
- Machine Learning (ML)
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
- Computer Vision
- Expert Systems that mimic human decision-making
- Models: Beyond user-facing programs, there are thousands of underlying AI models; one database tracks over 3200 models making progress in machine learning.
Due to the rapid pace of innovation in the field, tracking every single AI program is a dynamic, moving target.
As new algorithms and applications emerge, they often necessitate updates and revisions to existing programs. This ever-changing ecosystem demands constant vigilance and adaptability from developers, researchers, and organizations that aim to leverage AI effectively. To navigate this landscape intelligently, stakeholders must prioritize continuous learning and development.
The future of AI remains uncertain yet exciting, as emerging trends and technologies continue to reshape the world.
“By far, the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it.”
One Human's Perspective
For the record, I have no problem with AI, but I also have lots of problems with it.
I love technology, and we are living in an amazing time for that. It’s like we are experiencing the science fiction shows we watched as kids, but in real time. It is no longer science fiction.
AI is amazing in so many ways. The whole journey fascinates me in so many ways. And I would be foolish to think I understand it, or even just a sliver of it, beyond what I read and watch, and who knows how much of that is even real anymore.
As a creative writer, I use various forms of Artificial Intelligence, mostly for grammar and text editing, and occasionally to expand on an idea. And AI rocks for research data, factoids, and SEO.
As a graphic designer, I use AI for image editing and for stock editorial graphics, as you’ll find scattered throughout this website.
But, as an artist, up to this point anyway, I’ve resisted using AI aside from areas where I need some reference images that I could otherwise only imagine, like in my Phoenix Rising artwork last year. To create that painting, I referred to AI to show me what a Phoenix looks like. It didn’t take long for AI to kick out several stunning images of a proud Phoenix. And ya, they were cool, but, in truth, my creative satisfaction was in creating the actual artwork, an original canvas painting measuring 48″ x 60″. It was the hands-on process that I enjoyed the most. I chose to use AI as an assistive tool rather than the final creation, much in the same way that I would paint from a photograph.
My biggest concern with AI, from an artist’s perspective, is when it is used as a creative crutch. I still believe we need to develop and exercise our creative skills.
In my post from December 1, 2025, AI and the Loss of the Human Experience, I shared how AI is taking over the Arts in all their forms. It is quickly replacing writers, painters, sculptors, songwriters and singers, bands, actors and directors — you name it, and AI is taking over. Several of the most popular groups’ songs and music videos topping the charts are 100% AI generated or regenerated.
In that post, I shared that the 30% rule is a widely accepted guideline that suggests AI should handle approximately 70% of routine and repetitive tasks. In comparison, humans focus on the remaining 30% that require critical thinking, creativity, and decision-making.
Personally, I believe that we as creators should flip those numbers if we’re going to use AI at all, and use it sparingly, like seasoning. And when it comes to creativity, I feel that art, writing, and songwriting should be created by hand, from the heart, and that AI-generated anything creative is soulless at best.
And that is what concerns me the most.
"AI is neither good nor evil. It's a tool. It's a technology for us to use.”
AI vs. Actual Intelligence
As much as I find AI intriguing, I am far more impressed by actual intelligence. Great accomplishments start with an idea. Imagination is a human concept, whereas AI can only expand on that. I can’t create anything original. Fortunately, you can.
After thinking about this post, I considered the various ways I might have approached it: 1) I could write it from scratch with pencil or pen and paper, 2) I could type it in a text program or directly into a WordPress post and use Grammarly to help me edit, or 3) I could ask AI to create it for me.
In the end, I chose option #2 (my preferred process) mixed with a little #1 (keep that notepad handy), and a splash of #3 (for AI images, text, and copy edits), and began typing, while overusing my Google Search skills and Adobe credits to make everything correct. Along the way, AI served as a valuable tool, helping me convey my message more effectively, but I believe I would regret running with #3 entirely. Without options #1 or #2, there would be no post.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination"
- The Art of Global Connection ~ January 5,2025
- AI and the Loss of the Human Experience ~ December 1, 2025
- I Paint What I See ~ February 6, 2026
Hero image and stock images © 2026 Adobe Stock. Licensed for editorial and edited by A.D. Cook.
Pencil photo by A.D. Cook.
Artist A.D. Cook with Phoenix Rising painting © 2025
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A.D. is an artist who started drawing at a young age. Throughout his life, he has worked with different creative tools in traditional and digital art and design. His art and writings have been showcased in various publications such as Airbrush Action Magazine, Airbrush Magazine, American Art Collector, Art & Beyond, Dream To Launch, Easyriders, Las Vegas City Life, Las Vegas Weekly, L’Vegue, ModelsMania, Quick Throttle, and The Ultimate Airbrush Handbook.
