AI Made Simple 1/5

“It’s going to be interesting to see how society deals with artificial intelligence, but it will definitely be cool.” - Colin Angle

AI is already all around us.

Hey All, Phil here with the first of a five part series on AI. This is designed for anyone out there who maybe isn't quite sure what this thing is, and are curious what the future may hold. So buckle in, and let's do this.

Let’s get one thing straight: AI isn’t about Terminator robots, sci-fi rebellions, or your weird uncle’s conspiracy theories. It’s simpler, weirder, and way more boring than you’d think. Seriously—if AI threw a party, it’d serve spreadsheets and energy drinks.

So… What Is AI?

Imagine teaching a toddler to spot a cat in a photo. You show them 100 pictures of fluffy Persians, hairless Sphynxes, and that one meme cat with the grumpy face. Eventually, they start pointing at whiskers and tails and yelling “KITTY!” That’s AI. It’s just pattern recognition on steroids. At its core, that is what AI is.

• Machine Learning = A toddler with a calculator.

• Automation = Letting AI handle the boring stuff (like sorting your 200 unread emails).

• Data = The fuel AI needs to learn. No data? No smart AI. Just a very expensive paperweight.

When utilized responsibly, AI can be an incredibly powerful tool that can streamline and improve many of the processes we use every day.

You’re Already Using AI (Yes, You)

You know that “Recommended For You” section on Netflix? That’s AI stalking your watch history to guess you’ll binge another true crime doc. (No judgment—we’ve all been there.)

Or take Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” playlist. AI isn’t some musical genius—it’s just digging through 100 million songs to find tracks that sound like your questionable 2014 emo phase.

And don’t even get me started on Instagram. Why do you see 10 cat videos in a row? Blame AI’s creepy-but-accurate guesswork. It knows you’ll tap that “like” button faster than you’ll admit.

Through repetition and analysis, AI is trying to figure out what you like so that you'll use the app it is on more. That is essentially what it comes down to in the three examples I have just given you. Now, this is all well and good, except this is where it can also get a little nefarious when used irresponsibly.

Let's take a look at Facebook, for example. Facebook uses AI to create algorithms that put content in front of users that will drive a desired outcome. Influencing users politically is just one very big example of the misuse of AI. Hiding content that does not match the political will of the Lizard Aliens that run Meta. I jest ...

The Big Secret Nobody Tells You

Here’s the kicker: AI isn’t “thinking.” It’s not pondering the meaning of life or plotting to steal your job. It’s just crunching numbers really fast. Think of it like a supercharged toaster—great at one job (making toast), but it won’t write your resume or fix your love life. It may fool you into thinking it has those abilities, but they are merely answers based on the mass training of data it receives.

Want proof? Ask ChatGPT to explain quantum physics, and it’ll spit out a decent answer. Ask it to guess why your Tinder date ghosted you, and it’ll panic like a middle-schooler at a prom dance.

Why Should You Care?

Because AI’s everywhere, and it’s not going away. The good news? You don’t need to be a tech genius to get it. You just need to know two things:

1. AI’s only as smart as the data it’s fed.

2. It’s a tool, not a replacement for human brains (yet).

Coming Up Tomorrow…

AI isn’t just recommending your next Netflix show. Tomorrow, in Part 2 of this series, Phil's AI Intro, we’ll crack how it’s secretly running your life—from your morning commute to your late-night snack choices. (Spoiler: You’ll never look at Google Maps the same way again.) I hope you'll join me.