This Month’s Featured Article

Disclaimer: We are neither endorsing nor condoning the use of AI. The following is simply Dominique’s own experience with researching and using AI. We suggest everyone does their own research to formulate their own opinions on AI.

In the spring of 2025, an artsy friend of mine told me she finally decided to name her ChatGPT because she was using it so much to help her with things both mundane and complicated. She was enjoying thinking about what name she would assign to the bot; in fact, she was enjoying everything about ChatGPT. Her enthusiasm planted a seed in me. 

Or maybe the seed was planted way back in 2014 when my family went to the theater to see the movie Her, in which the main character develops a romantic relationship with a computer. It seemed like a crazy, futuristic idea, and it was portrayed as such (not crazy, just futuristic), but it made a big impression on all of us. Could this really happen? 

Recently, colleagues of mine attended an industry conference where one of the key presentations was on incorporating AI into your business to drive sales. That piqued my curiosity still further. I started digging deeper.

Getting to know It

I downloaded the ChatGPT app onto my phone. I talked to more people about how – if – they used it. I was advised to check out Copilot on my computer, too, and compare responses between the two. 

I didn’t even understand what they were, so I asked Microsoft Edge, the default browser on my desktop computer. I learned, “When comparing ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, it’s important to note their distinct purposes and functionalities. ChatGPT is designed for conversational AI, offering a natural language interface for creative tasks, coding, summarizing, and information retrieval. In contrast, Microsoft Copilot is integrated into Microsoft 365 applications, focusing on productivity and automation within the Microsoft ecosystem. … Both tools leverage GPT5’s language understanding to enhance work and communication, but they cater to different user needs and environments.”

What’s GPT5? It’s the latest multimodal large language model in what’s known as generative pre-trained transformer foundation models. It was launched in August of this year to replace GPT-4. It powers ChapGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and other developers through OpenAI. 

That’s really all I wanted to know about where this was coming from. I was more interested, at first, in what it could do for me.

“Ask Anything”

When I became stuck about how to proceed with a particular relationship issue, I thought, “I’ll ask ChatGPT.” It gave me some good feedback and asked some leading questions. I chose not to go deeper, as I didn’t want to give it too much personal information. Yes, I wanted it to personalize responses for me, but what was it doing with the information? 

I didn’t go deeper with personal issues, but I did play with ChatGPT, in particular, to give me ideas about lots of things I’m interested in, from wine pairings to understanding cryptocurrency to the insoles that were best for my feet and legs. It’s been informative, for sure, and also, I have to admit, not just impressive, but fun. 

Hearing from an expert

And then, an “aha” moment for me. While deciding on a podcast to listen to, I stumbled on one of Mel Robbins’s titled, “How to Use AI to Make Money, Save Time, and Be More Productive.” In it she interviewed Allie K. Miller, one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in AI, and someone Robbins calls “the AI whisperer.” 

One of the things Robbins said that really caught my attention was, “[AI] is already here. … It has exploded, it has accelerated, and I don’t want to get left behind. I don’t want women in particular to lean back and get left behind.” 

That’s me. I don’t want to get left behind. But what am I getting left behind on?

Miller suggests that AI should be considered more of an executive assistant than someone or something that will “replace” you. An example she gave is of not being a good cook. She took a picture of what was in her fridge and pantry and asked AI to give her suggestions about what to make with those ingredients. If a recipe suggestion had something missing, it gave her info on what it was and where she could get it. 

“You’re using it to help you be more of yourself,” Miller repeats through the podcast as she gives example after example of what’s possible, not just now, but going forward. (I highly recommend the podcast on Mel Robbins, Episode 340 from November 6, 2025.)

Putting it to use

A year ago, if I was writing this article, I would have done Google searches on the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, mulled them over, and written about them. Today, I went straight to ChatGPT and, in the bar that says “Ask Anything,” typed in the following:  Give me 10 reasons to embrace AI in 2026.

Here’s what I got seconds later (including original formatting):

Here are 10 clear, future-focused reasons to embrace AI by 2026 (tuned to where AI is heading, not just where it is now):

1. AI becomes the default layer of productivity

By 2026, nearly every major app – email, browsers, calendars, docs – will have deep AI assistants built in. Using AI won’t be “extra”; it’ll be how you get things done faster.

2. You’ll get personalized coaching in every area of life

AI won’t just answer questions – it will coach, giving tailored guidance on finances, health, travel planning, creativity, and career decisions, based on your patterns and preferences.

3. Planning anything becomes dramatically easier

From vacations to retirement to meal planning to managing a household, AI will reduce hours of research to minutes, cross-checking options, preferences, budgets, and calendars for you.

4. AI becomes a companion for creativity

Writers, artists, photographers, hobbyists, and journalers get brainstorming, editing, idea-generation, and design support on demand. It’s like having a creative partner available 24/7.

5. It helps you stay informed without overwhelm

By 2026, AI will summarize news, filter noise, and show you only what genuinely matters to you, not what algorithms want you to see.

6. AI boosts financial clarity and confidence

Expect improved financial modeling, retirement projections, side-gig analysis, tax planning, and budget tracking – done conversationally, without spreadsheets.

7. It improves digital well-being

AI will manage notifications, screen time, and information flow so you spend less time scrolling and more time living.

8. AI becomes your personal research analyst

For any decision – big or small – AI will rapidly synthesize reviews, data, trends, and expert perspectives into something understandable and actionable.

9. It enhances accessibility and independence

Voice interfaces, real-time translation, and personalized adjustments will make technology easier for everyone, especially as we age.

10. AI becomes a partner in critical thinking – not a replacement

The people who thrive will use AI as a sounding board, a second brain, and a way to improve their own reasoning, not outsource it. It sharpens your thinking by providing perspectives, checks, and explanations.

If you want, I can also give you:

• a shorter, punchier list
• a version shaped for an article on “Why 2026 Will Be the Year to Finally Embrace AI”
• a version in your own voice (like your AI journaling article)

I didn’t ask it to go further, as I was satisfied with these ten points. But I did ask, “If I use all of this information in an article I’m writing, is it plagiarism?”

To which ChatGPT said, “Great question  – and the answer is no, it’s not plagiarism to use this in your article as long as you’re the one shaping the final piece and you’re not copying someone else’s protected work.”

The tippy tippy tip of the iceberg

Streamlined, straightforward, seemingly simple and highly rewarding to embrace, right? Let’s all lean in and not get left behind.

There is a “belly to the beast” here, however, and it’s one that’s being buried while the potentially life-saving and exciting life-altering possibilities are flashed in front of us. 

I asked Copilot, “Will we be able to meet the energy demands of artificial intelligence,” and here’s part of what it said (again, text in bold is generated that way):

Why AI Energy Demand Is a Big Challenge

• Explosive growth in electricity use: Data centers already consume about 4.4% of U.S. electricity, and this could rise to 12% by 2028. Globally, data centers may use 1,050 terawatt-hours by 2026, making them the 5th largest energy consumer worldwide – more than Japan.

• Cooling and water demands: Up to 40% of data center energy goes to cooling systems, and water use could reach 6.6 billion cubic meters annually by 2027.

• Training large AI models: Training requires thousands of GPUs running for weeks or months, pushing data centers toward consuming 20% of global electricity by 2030–2035.

It said, in sum, “We can meet AI’s energy demands, but it requires urgent action: scaling renewables, modernizing grids, and designing more efficient AI systems. If the industry and governments fail to act, energy shortages and rising emissions could stall AI’s progress.”

ChatGPT stated, in part, that “By 2030, data centers could use 6–9% of U.S. electricity (up from ~3% today), according to multiple energy-systems forecasts.”

I posed a question that for me is a huge elephant in the room of AI advancement: “Based on this information, with the current administration in the US leaning away from renewable energy, what is the prognosis that this can succeed?” If you want to know the answer, ask your Copilot or ChatGPT. 

More and more to learn

Another podcast I’ve really enjoyed about better understanding AI is The Last Invention. There are currently eight episodes, with the first one titled, “Ready or Not.” It’s a fascinating in-depth exploration of the evolution of multimodular learning and the people who have helped and are currently making it happen, including how they lean relative to the potential dangers of AI. 

Embracing change

A friend of mine is moving into an independent living facility from the place he’s called home for more than 50 years. He has made peace with the decision, but it’s still a huge, life-altering change. In helping him – embracing him as he goes through this – I’ve learned that an embrace isn’t just a warm, happy hug, it’s an acknowledgement of a shared struggle to understand a next step. It’s complicated, but necessary. 

Will I name my ChatGPT in 2026? Will Copilot help me with a retirement plan? How is our area supporting this technology? So many questions and so much change. Whether you’re ready or not, it’s time to embrace what’s unavoidable. •

Note: I have provided just a couple of resources that have been helpful for me. There are loads of them out there, including books, videos, and online courses to help with understanding AI. I’d love to hear where you find inspiration and what ways you have embraced this new reality of ours. Email me at Dominique.devito@gmail.com. Happy New Year.