Artificial intelligence (AI) developments in areas like healthcare and education often overshadow smaller breakthroughs that, while less revolutionary, serve to make our lives easier and more productive. The technology can streamline tasks and save valuable time for its users. The holiday season is a wonderful time to harness the power of AI to help bring families together for celebration and giving.

Most are familiar with the hassle of holiday travels. Weather alerts, delays, flight cancellations, crowds, and logistics can make a trip to see loved ones feel completely overwhelming. Airlines are incorporating AI to make the travel experience more seamless, using AI to track luggage and streamline onboarding and offboarding procedures. Often overwhelmed during the winter because of high travel volume, airports are turning to AI to reinforce security protocols and promote safety. AI chatbots are providing booking assistance and real time flight information to travelers, allowing them to switch flights and inquire about the status of their trip with ease. Delta Airlines is even using AI to personalize in-flight movie recommendations.

Those choosing to brave the roads rather than fly can benefit from AI as well. Navigation apps are using the technology to offer a new level of precision to their routes. This year, Google Maps unveiled “Immersive View,” which allows users to preview their route and destination, including complicated turns and parking availability. The immersive features even include an accurate time of day and weather into their visuals. Waze, the popular navigation app that relies on live traffic updates to guide users, is testing a new “conversational reporting” option. Users can speak to the app to report traffic, and the app in turn will respond to the user with follow up questions to guarantee accurate and full information.

For those who choose to stay home and host, AI has an answer to the formidable task of planning a holiday meal. Large language models, like Microsoft Copilot or Chat GPT, can source suggestions for meals that suit different culinary skill levels. Once the courses have been selected, AI can easily convert the ingredient amounts into the appropriate quantities for an estimated headcount and even make adjustments to recipes to accommodate specific dietary restrictions.

AI can help conquer even the lengthiest of gift lists. Chat GPT can make suggestions tailored to a specific recipient. For example, “give me ten gift ideas for someone who loves the free market and wants to see Louisiana flourish.” Online retailers are using chatbots to answer shoppers’ questions about product reviews and price comparisons. In October, Amazon announced AI powered shopping guides to act as “a trusted product expert by proactively consolidating key information customers need to make an informed purchase.” Thanks to AI, shoppers have access to more options, more information, and ultimately, more time.

The conversation around AI can make the technology seem distant; it can seem that the “AI revolution” is unfolding in state-of-the-art labs, Silicon Valley, or apocalyptic scenarios. However, part of what makes AI so wonderful is its versatility and accessibility. The holiday season is the perfect time to harness AI to spread joy and celebrate together.