This year for the holidays, I’m starting a new tradition. As we do every year, we’ll be gathering with friends and family to celebrate the season. But this time around I’m adding a new element. I spent much of 2023 immersed in the world of artificial intelligence. I devoted hours to experimenting with AI, contributing to the development of new products using large language models (LLM) and generative AI, and writing about the impact AI will have on business and society.
In this column I’ve written extensively about practical ways we can use AI to enhance our productivity and, hopefully, make our lives a little better. During this jolly season, I will try to put that advice into practice by using AI to bring some zing to our holiday celebration. Over the past few weeks, with eggnog and mistletoe on the mind, I’ve given a lot of thought to how I can use AI to enrich and refresh our holiday gatherings. I’m pleased to share the results, in the form of this list of the top 10 things you can do with AI to enhance your holiday season.
10. Roses are red, AI is blue: Create unique personalized holiday cards and gifts using AI-generated designs and messages.
9. AI personalized shopper: Leverage AI algorithms to help you find the ideal gifts for your loved ones. AI can analyze preferences, past purchases and trending items to suggest thoughtful and personalized gift ideas.
8. Add a dash of AI: Use AI-powered recipe generators to come up with unique and delicious holiday dishes that incorporate a dash of your favorite spice or flavor.
7. Mariah, Bing, Bublé, Underwood: Create a unique holiday music playlist using AI-generated compositions. AI models can analyze popular holiday tunes and generate new, festive melodies, offering a fresh take on classic seasonal music.
6. On the road with AI: Use AI-powered travel apps to find the best deals on holiday flights and accommodations.
5. The latest and greatest: Use AI-powered entertainment recommendations to discover new holiday movies, music and books, or ask AI to write a holiday story with your family in it. Mine was “Charlie Brown Meets the Perrys in New York on Christmas Eve!”
4. Become your own Picasso, Matisse or Pollock: Unleash your creativity with AI-generated art. Use tools and apps that employ generative adversarial networks (GANs) or style transfer algorithms to create unique digital artworks. It’s a fun way to explore the intersection of technology and artistic expression.
3. Family fun: Organize a high-tech AI-enhanced scavenger hunt using augmented reality (AR) apps that incorporate AI elements. Hide virtual clues or objects throughout your space, and let participants use their smartphones or AR glasses to hunt for them.
2. Make the mood and set the scene: Set up AI-powered smart home devices to create a festive and cozy atmosphere with automated lighting, music and decorations.
1. And of course, experiment, learn and do: Engage with AI-powered tools, play around and try it out.
Happy holidays to all, and to all a Good AI!