I Let AI Run My Week – Here’s What I Learned
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The Experiment: Letting Go of Control
For a week, I decided to put AI in charge of my life. I used a combination of tools, including scheduling apps, meal planning software, fitness trackers, and creative AI platforms. My goal was to see how effectively AI could manage my time, health, and leisure, while still feeling productive and balanced. Would AI enhance my life or leave me longing for my old routines?
Here’s a breakdown of how AI ran my week.
Day 1: Setting the Rules
The first day was all about setup. I chose apps like ChatGPT for decision-making, Google Calendar with AI suggestions for time management, and MyFitnessPal with meal planning features. I also experimented with a fitness AI app, Future, for personalized workouts.
I input my preferences, from wake-up times to meal styles (healthy but indulgent), and let the systems create a daily schedule. Some rules I established:
- Follow the AI’s recommendations exactly.
- Record any adjustments or struggles.
- Reflect each night on the results.
Work: Productivity Like Never Before?
AI’s Plan:
My AI assistant structured my workdays into focused blocks. Using tools like Notion AI, it prioritized tasks based on urgency and flagged emails for immediate attention. Breaks were scheduled every 90 minutes.
The Experience:
By Day 2, I noticed a sharp increase in productivity. Having my tasks sorted for me eliminated decision fatigue, and I avoided procrastination. However, there was little flexibility—unexpected meetings or creative bursts weren’t seamlessly accounted for. The rigid structure occasionally felt confining.
Meals: Creative but Questionable
AI’s Plan:
Meal planning came from an app like EatThisMuch. It suggested balanced meals based on calorie goals and dietary preferences, generating recipes and shopping lists.
The Experience:
At first, I was impressed. Breakfasts like avocado toast with egg and chia seeds hit the mark. But by Day 3, I began questioning some combinations, like a "quinoa smoothie" for dinner. Despite a few misses, the app prevented decision paralysis during meal times and saved money with efficient grocery planning.
Fitness: A New Workout Regimen
AI’s Plan:
Using Future, I received daily personalized workouts. The app adjusted intensity based on my input and tracked progress.
The Experience:
The workouts were effective and introduced me to new exercises, like resistance band training. I appreciated the real-time coaching and reminders. However, one session felt overly ambitious, leaving me sore for two days. AI sometimes lacked the nuance of knowing when I needed a gentler approach.
Leisure: Where AI Shines
AI’s Plan:
AI curated leisure activities, including recommendations for movies, podcasts, and even meditation sessions. It also suggested journaling prompts and hobbies based on my interests.
The Experience:
AI’s suggestions often hit the mark. On Day 4, I discovered a fantastic indie film I wouldn’t have found otherwise. Meditation apps like Headspace provided structured relaxation, and journaling prompts from ChatGPT helped me reflect more deeply. However, some suggestions felt repetitive by the end of the week.
Social Life: The Awkward Side of AI
AI’s Plan:
AI apps attempted to schedule social activities and suggest icebreakers for conversations. One app even recommended topics for group chats!
The Experience:
This was the weakest area. AI couldn’t fully understand the nuances of social dynamics. For example, it suggested scheduling a group outing mid-week when everyone was busy with work. Conversations felt stilted when following scripted prompts. Socializing, it seems, still thrives on human intuition.
Biggest Wins of the Week
- Improved Productivity: Task prioritization and time-blocking eliminated much of my usual stress.
- Better Meal Planning: Pre-planned meals reduced grocery waste and saved time.
- Discovery of New Interests: AI nudged me to try activities and content outside my comfort zone.
Where AI Fell Short
- Lack of Flexibility: Rigid schedules didn’t account for spontaneous changes.
- Impersonal Decisions: Meal plans and workouts occasionally felt out of touch with my immediate needs.
- Social Struggles: AI couldn’t replace the emotional intelligence required for meaningful social interactions.
What I Learned
This experiment highlighted both the potential and the limitations of AI in everyday life. Here are my key takeaways:
- AI Thrives in Structure: For routine tasks like scheduling, meal planning, and fitness tracking, AI excels. It saves time, reduces decision fatigue, and boosts efficiency.
- AI Struggles with Context: Situations requiring emotional intelligence or nuanced decision-making are where AI still lags.
- The Human Touch is Irreplaceable: While AI can suggest and optimize, it can’t replicate the spontaneity, creativity, and empathy of human judgment.
Would I Do It Again?
Yes—but with tweaks. I’d use AI as a supportive tool rather than an all-encompassing manager. Combining its strengths with my intuition feels like the best balance.
Letting AI run my week was an eye-opening experiment. It streamlined many aspects of my life but also reminded me of the irreplaceable qualities of human agency. AI is a powerful assistant, but we’re not ready to hand over the reins completely.
