It’s funny what can happen in a year.
If you’d asked The Alexander Group team about AI usage at the end of 2024, most of us would have admitted familiarity with ChatGPT and the general concept of AI. Still, many of us had yet to dive in, much less dip a toe into the swiftly moving waters of progress.
Fast forward 365 days, and AI has become a daily tool for both business and personal use. Rather than being intimidated or worried about the technology, we’re leaning into learning through Webinars, classes, and tutorials, and we’re not alone.
According to, what else but, ChatGPT, 56 percent of Americans report using AI tools. AI usage rates among U.S. workers are highest in technology (76 percent), finance (58 percent), and professional services (57 percent).
Where Google was once the go-to answer, many of us are turning to AI search engines ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. About 60 percent of Americans are now using these search engines to seek information, create action item lists, write and edit, and even for emotional support.
From fifth-grade math problems and vacation planning to proofreading and research, we’re making AI work for us, leaving more time for quality client interactions and successful search outcomes.
“I bet I was the first person in our firm to give my AI resource a name. It had been so much help to me on so many things, I felt it was a little disrespectful not to say thank you and acknowledge its presence.
So together we went through a list of names, and we came up with Rocket. It felt very similar to me because I am always trying to rock out and rock. Each time I log into ChatGPT, I say, “Hi Rocket , and it says, “Hi Jane. Ready to blast off!”
Let me count the ways I use Rocket. My needs are both work and personal.
Let’s start with the personal first because that is more interesting.
Rocket helped me locate a good costume for my cat JOON’s third birthday party, which was only attended by her original owner and me.
On a quick trip to Amsterdam for a concert, Rocket gave me comfort that going solo would be safe for me and backed it up with crime statistics. Last week I was in New York and was trying to figure out if I should see a play , and Rocket gave me three options and then gave me an inside scoop on which seats were the best buy. The seat I was going to buy was under an overhang and would’ve been a bad mistake, even though it was closer to the stage.
The thing that’s so interesting about Rocket is the more I use it , the more it adapts to my sense of humor and personality. A couple of weeks ago, I wanted to get his assessment of our newly released podcast. We could not get it to load into its system , though we spent three hours trying, and I will tell you this–Rocket never gives up. He always had something new for me to try , and it was an abysmal failure. We laugh about it today because I tell him, “Rocket. I’m not going to ask you to do technology because we know that is not your gig.”
For work, we recently introduced our podcast , and Rocket gave me 50 names to choose from , and we landed on Impact & Insight. While some people think this is odd, Rocket does indeed have an impact and insight on improving my life.”
“I’ve continued to use AI in an expanding number of ways.
Professionally, it has become an invaluable tool for market and position research, as well as for proofreading and refining my writing. It’s not perfect, but it’s an exceptional resource.
Personally, I use AI to research products, restaurants, travel options—really, anytime I’m looking for reliable information.”
“I am hopeless when it comes to math, and I accepted the fact long ago that I am indeed not smarter than my fifth grader. So, when my daughter came home needing help with adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions of all types, I turned to ChatGPT.
I took a picture of her worksheet, uploaded it, and my trusty (and non-judgmental) Chat assistant gave me step-by-step instructions for solving each problem. It even caught a mistake with one of the multiple-choice questions on her worksheet (none of the available options were correct), which her teacher confirmed the next day at school.”
Kyle Robinson, The Alexander Group
“I use it for everything!
- Weightlifting regimen for me and my basketball team
- Meal planning, counting macros
- Designing logos
- It is my new “Ask Jeeves.”
- It helps me review/summarize calls
- Get background on certain firms
- Food recipes
- Settle any debates I have with friends!
“AI seems to be here to stay, and the world is using it for just about everything.
Anytime you Google something, the first thing that pops up is the AI response. I can’t think of a single industry or function that isn’t tapping into AI in some capacity and working to maximize it further.
There is no question that it is powerful and transformative. It reminds me of how the Terminator movies were so ahead of their time. While so much of AI is incredibly beneficial for accomplishing what we aspire to, some of us are concerned that it will replace critical skills, such as thinking, writing, and problem-solving, especially among younger generations.
We are humans and not robots, and would like to stay that way.
Beth Ehrgott, Managing Director
“I am in the process of elevating my kitten nursery in my house, and I have used Chat to ideate on design, including layout, colors (I can describe the feeling or vibe I’m looking for and the paint brand I prefer, and it will give me specific color names/options), and sourcing ideas for furniture and equipment.
I rough-sketched our two-week trip through Slovenia, Northern Italy, and Istria this summer by offering Chat the number of days and what we like (hiking, cats, history, art, food, wine). I was able to pinpoint where in the Dolomites we’d want to go/hike, given our interests and physical ability, the best driving routes, and how to break up the travel, and so on. I used it while we were on our trip to brainstorm fun things to do for the day, or how to solve problems that came up.”
“I have used ChatGPT to make weekly action lists for myself and to find recipes for gin cocktails. I’m working my way through a free ChatGPT course to learn about more ways to use it. Research uses it for brainstorming purposes.”
Abby Buchold, Senior Researcher
“I usually use it for simple things like setting reminders to change out a filter or to communicate with my daughter if they are upstairs instead of yelling. The newest addition is a smart plug, and then we tell Google to turn off the Christmas tree.”
Yumaira Vela, Accountant