During one of the darkest periods of my life—fresh out of a breakup and grappling with the uncertainty of the pandemic— Conan O’Brien’s podcast became a source of comfort. But recently, it introduced me to something even more powerful: a story about how AI is transforming lives in ways that are both personal and profound.

This episode did not showcase high-profile celebrities, bestselling authors or prominent politicians. Most wouldn’t know who Maria Aleandra Fernandez and Jules Rodriguez are. At least not me. But if you continue reading, just like me, you will learn of their struggles, and how AI came into their relationship.

Jules and Maria’s lives took a heartbreaking turn when Jules was diagnosed with ALS, a debilitating condition that gradually stripped him of his physical abilities. For the couple, the fear of losing Jules’ voice and personality weighed heavily.

As the disease progressed, he lost his ability to speak, creating a silence that was as painful as the physical decline.

Yet, amid this overwhelming loss, AI gave them hope. Using an eye-tracking device, Jules regained his voice—an AI-generated version that sounded like him, built from recordings of his speech. With this, Jules not only communicates but continues to joke, laugh, and even pursue his passion for comedy.

Maria, who had been by his side throughout, felt like AI had restored a part of their normal life. It wasn’t just a machine—it was giving Jules back a sense of identity, a connection to the world, and a way to express his love for his family. AI became a lifeline in their journey, helping them preserve moments of joy and laughter in a time of immense struggle.

You can learn more about this power couple at their website, Team High Octane, or if you prefer to follow in my footsteps by starting with the podcast episode that changed it all, here’s the link.

Jules and Maria on Conan O’Brien’s Podcast

The Other Side of AI

If you’ve been following the previous editions of #BeBrilliantwithAI, we have always talked about the business side of AI. Whether it’s the latest news, resource recommendations, actionable insights, case studies etc, it has always been quite, well, “professional”.

I figured for this edition, I’d highlight the various AI tools, industry players and innovative initiatives that impacts the “personal” side of our lives.

After all, you can’t be brilliant at work and be dreadful at life, right?

And talking about life, I thought this is another great story on how life became more beautiful with AI.

Sperm whales communicate!

AI As A Translator for Whales

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) boast the largest brain of any living creature, weighing in at a staggering 7.8 kg—compared to the mere 1.4 kg of the average human brain.

With all that brainpower, you’d think they must be pretty smart, right? For years, this was just speculation. But now, we’re beginning to learn more about these ocean giants.

In the dark, silent depths of the ocean, sperm whales communicate through clicks, known as “codas.” These vocalizations have puzzled researchers for centuries—until now. Thanks to AI, scientists are finally unlocking the secrets of whale communication. Using advanced pattern recognition, they’ve identified over 150 unique coda types, revealing a “sperm whale phonetic alphabet.”

This breakthrough has changed our understanding of how these majestic creatures communicate. It’s not just random sounds; it’s potentially a sophisticated language. AI has become an indispensable tool for marine biologists, helping to unravel mysteries that were once beyond our grasp. It’s a powerful reminder that AI isn’t just transforming our world—it’s unlocking the hidden lives of creatures in the vast, unexplored realms of the ocean.

And of course, this discovery opens up more possibilities across the different animal worlds. There are already ongoing research to better understand the various species that has co-existed with humans for lifetimes.

Decoding Marmoset Calls with AI

Researchers at Princeton University used machine learning algorithms to analyze the calls of common marmosets, a type of small monkey. They found that marmoset calls have a rich syntactic structure, with the animals combining different call elements in predictable ways to create meaningful sequences. This suggests marmosets have a basic form of language.

Interpreting Prairie Dog Chatter

Scientists at the University of Arizona trained AI models on recordings of prairie dog calls. They discovered that prairie dogs have specific alarm calls for different predators, like coyotes or hawks. The AI was able to identify these predator-specific calls with high accuracy, showing prairie dogs have a sophisticated communication system.

Analyzing Beluga Whale Conversations

The Earth Species Project, an initiative to decode animal languages, has been working on interpreting beluga whale vocalizations using AI. By analyzing recordings of belugas, the project aims to identify patterns and structures in their calls that could indicate a complex communication system, similar to human language.

Studying Crows’ Sophisticated Vocabulary

Researchers at the University of Washington used AI to study the calls of American crows. They found crows have a large vocabulary of over 250 call types, which they combine in complex ways to communicate. The AI was able to classify crow calls with 92% accuracy, suggesting crows have a rich language.

These examples demonstrate how AI is enabling scientists to uncover the hidden complexities of animal communication across diverse species, from primates to cetaceans to birds. Just as the sperm whale study revealed an unexpected “phonetic alphabet”, these projects are shedding light on the language-like properties of animal vocalizations. This is an exciting frontier in animal cognition and communication research.

But of course, you’d probably wonder if the applications of AI in non-work settings goes beyond the realm of communication right?

For sure! And the objective here is not to overwhelm you with information. Overwhelm you with the possibilities, maybe. 😉

After all, we don’t know what we don’t know, and I figured if I can show you a wide range of use cases, you’ll start expanding your perspective, or at the very least, trigger a “Why didn’t I think about that?!” moment for you!

Life Story AI offers a seamless way for families to document cherished memories.

AI as a Documenter of Memories

Mike realizes that his aging grandfather, Mr. Kwan, a prominent business owner, has a wealth of stories that inspire entrepreneurs. But as Mr. Kwan shows signs of early dementia, Mike fears these stories might be lost. Using Life Story AI, Mike helps his grandfather capture these invaluable memories through AI-generated prompts, turning them into a beautifully preserved keepsake for future generations.

Life Story AI offers a seamless way for families to document cherished memories. By prompting users with thoughtful questions, the app encourages reflection and captures stories that might otherwise fade with time. Many families find that using it not only preserves their legacies but also strengthens familial bonds through shared storytelling.

The Autobiographer app helps users preserve their life stories with the help of AI-driven prompts, turning memories into written keepsakes.

AI as a Preserver of Legacies

Sarah’s grandmother, a World War II survivor, has always shared her stories of resilience. As Sarah prepares to have her first child, she worries her grandmother’s memories will fade. Using The Autobiographer app, Sarah guides her grandmother through reflective prompts, creating a written narrative that will serve as a legacy for future generations.

The Autobiographer app helps users preserve their life stories with the help of AI-driven prompts, turning memories into written keepsakes. By guiding users to reflect on their past, it captures emotions and experiences, allowing individuals to create meaningful narratives for future generations.

Zoe Care uses radio waves to detect falls, sending alerts to caregivers without the need for wearables or cameras.

AI as an Elderly Care Assistant

After John’s father, a retired engineer, had a fall, John became increasingly concerned for his father’s safety. However, his father refused to wear monitoring devices. John found Zoe Care, an AI system that detects falls without requiring wearables, giving John peace of mind while allowing his father to live independently.

Zoe Care uses radio waves to detect falls, sending alerts to caregivers without the need for wearables or cameras. This AI-driven solution allows seniors to live freely, reducing the fear of accidents while ensuring timely help is available.

HINCareHKU uses AI to match elderly individuals with volunteers based on their specific needs and the helpers’ skill sets.

AI as an Elderly Care Match Maker

Mei, a busy professional in Hong Kong, found it difficult to balance her work with caring for her elderly mother. She turned to HINCare, an app that quickly matched her mother with a local volunteer for meal prep assistance, ensuring her mother’s needs were met without straining her time.

HINCareHKU uses AI to match elderly individuals with volunteers based on their specific needs and the helpers’ skill sets. By streamlining the process of finding assistance, the app fosters community support and enhances the quality of life for seniors.

DreamBox Learning is an AI-driven educational tool that personalizes lessons based on a student’s performance.

AI as a Personalized Learning Tutor

David always struggled with math, often feeling frustrated in class. His teacher introduced him to DreamBox Learning, an AI platform that adapts lessons to his pace. Now, with personalized feedback and tailored lessons, David’s confidence in math is growing.

DreamBox Learning is an AI-driven educational tool that personalizes lessons based on a student’s performance. By adjusting in real-time, it ensures that each student gets the support they need, creating a more engaging and tailored learning experience.

Woebot Health offers conversational mental health support through an AI-powered chatbot.

AI as a Mental Health Support

Samantha recently started a stressful job and often felt overwhelmed. She began using Woebot, an AI mental health chatbot that helped her navigate her anxiety with practical coping strategies and emotional support, giving her a sense of relief.

Woebot Health offers conversational mental health support through an AI-powered chatbot. It provides users with cognitive-behavioral techniques, coping strategies, and emotional guidance, making mental health resources more accessible and offering real-time support for stress and anxiety.

Atomwise accelerates drug discovery by using AI to predict how different molecules will interact, dramatically reducing the time and cost of developing new medications.

AI as a Discover of Drugs

Amy’s family faced a rare disease, and she feared there wouldn’t be any treatment options soon. However, researchers using Atomwise’s AI predicted a promising treatment within months, giving her family hope.

Atomwise accelerates drug discovery by using AI to predict how different molecules will interact, dramatically reducing the time and cost of developing new medications. This innovation is providing breakthroughs in treatments for diseases like Ebola and multiple sclerosis.

WYSA – Mental Health, Redefined.

AI as a Mental Health Coach

After months of stress at work, Anna found herself unable to focus and constantly anxious. She discovered WYSA, an AI chatbot that offered her emotional support through practical coping strategies. While chatting with WYSA, she learned how to manage her anxiety better. Soon after, she explored Lyra Health, which connected her with a therapist who specialized in stress management. Anna now uses Headspace for daily mindfulness practices, helping her maintain balance.

AI tools like Wysa, Lyra Health and Headspace provide users with personalized mental health support. From chatbots offering emotional strategies to professional therapy connections and meditation apps, these tools make mental health care more accessible, promoting well-being in everyday life.

The smart(est) calendar app that optimizes everyone’s schedules for better productivity, collaboration, and work-life balance.

AI as a Well-being Enhancer

After struggling with fatigue and feeling disorganized, Brian started using Fitbit to track his physical activity and sleep patterns. He then added Sleep Cycle to optimize his sleep by waking him up during his lightest sleep phase. To reduce stress at work, Brian relied on Breathhh, which reminded him to practice deep breathing. Finally, Reclaim helped him balance his work and personal tasks by automatically scheduling healthy habits into his day.

AI tools like Fitbit (now part of Google), Sleep Cycle, Breathhh and Reclaim.ai offer personalized insights and scheduling to improve users’ overall health, sleep, stress levels, and time management.

Cleo offers personalized budgeting advice and helps users manage their finances more effectively, promoting financial literacy with a user-friendly, engaging interface.

AI as a Financial Assistant

Sophie struggled with managing her monthly expenses, frequently going over budget. She started using Cleo, an AI-powered budgeting app, to monitor her spending. Cleo not only helped her track expenses but also used humor and interactive prompts to encourage smarter financial habits. When her phone bill was unusually high, Cleo’s Haggle It feature helped her negotiate it down, saving her money.

Cleo offers personalized budgeting advice and helps users manage their finances more effectively, promoting financial literacy with a user-friendly, engaging interface.

PlantSnap Inc allows users to identify plants and flowers through AI-powered photo recognition, encouraging outdoor exploration, gardening, and a greater appreciation of the natural world.

AI as a Nature Companion

After moving to the countryside, Laura wanted to learn more about the plants and flowers around her. She downloaded PlantSnap, an AI app that helped her identify the various species she encountered. With just a photo, PlantSnap provided Laura with detailed information about the plants, inspiring her to start a small garden and fostering a deeper connection with nature.

PlantSnap Inc allows users to identify plants and flowers through AI-powered photo recognition, encouraging outdoor exploration, gardening, and a greater appreciation of the natural world.

Can AI give us a better future?

A Beautiful Future with AI

AI is often seen as a tool of convenience or a cutting-edge technology designed to boost productivity.

But as we’ve explored, its impact goes far beyond efficiency—it’s about enhancing the human experience in ways we never imagined.

From giving Jules his voice back to decoding the languages of the ocean’s most intelligent creatures, AI is quietly making the world more beautiful. It’s bridging gaps in communication, health, nature, and our personal stories.

And while it’s easy to focus on AI’s practical applications, perhaps the real power of AI lies in its ability to restore and elevate what makes us human—our connections, our stories, and our understanding of the world around us.

The future of AI isn’t just about making life easier—it’s about making life more meaningful.