The Vergecast’s “AI for Normies” episode showcases how everyday users leverage AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini for practical tasks such as moving logistics, parenting, information searching, and creative projects, highlighting both their benefits and limitations. Through personal stories, the episode emphasizes AI’s usefulness in simplifying complex tasks while underscoring the need for effective prompting and critical evaluation of AI-generated information.
The Vergecast’s special Sunday episode titled “AI for Normies” explores practical, real-life uses of AI beyond the typical product demos. The host, V Song, gathers insights from Verge colleagues who share how AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini have helped them in everyday tasks, highlighting both successes and limitations. The episode aims to demystify AI’s usefulness for average users by focusing on genuine applications rather than hype.
Esther Cohen, the director of subscriptions, discusses how she extensively used ChatGPT to manage the complex logistics of moving her family from New York City to Miami. AI helped her with budgeting, tax calculations, and understanding local costs, saving her time and the expense of hiring professionals. However, she found AI less reliable for shopping comparisons, such as car leases and insurance quotes, where human interaction was still necessary. Esther emphasizes that learning how to prompt AI effectively was key to getting useful results.
Senior smartphone reviewer Allison Johnson shares her experience using AI assistants, particularly for managing calendars and parenting challenges. She praises AI’s ability to accurately add events from screenshots, especially chaotic kids’ schedules, which she found invaluable. Allison also used AI to create a detailed bedtime routine “playbook” for her child and even generated humorous bedtime stories to help her relax. While AI sometimes struggled with formatting tasks like Google Docs integration, overall, it significantly eased her daily parenting and scheduling burdens.
Executive editor Jake Castanakis explains how AI is changing the way he searches for information online. Unlike traditional keyword-based searches, AI allows him to ask nuanced questions and receive synthesized answers, which can be more efficient but requires careful fact-checking. He shares examples of using AI to verify corporate statements and to research trivial pop culture questions, illustrating both AI’s strengths and its tendency to fabricate information. Jake also describes using ChatGPT as a “sounding board” for personal projects, appreciating its ability to remember context and help him think through complex decisions.
Finally, producer Travis Larch reveals his creative use of Google Gemini for “vibe coding” an original tabletop RPG assistant. By feeding Gemini his custom game rules, he generated a dynamic creature generator that automates tedious administrative tasks, allowing him to focus on storytelling and gameplay. The episode closes with V Song’s personal confession of using AI-powered astrology tools as a quirky coping mechanism, showing how AI can serve diverse and sometimes unconventional roles in people’s lives. Overall, the episode highlights AI’s practical benefits while acknowledging its current limitations and the importance of user judgment.