5 Ways to Utilize AI That Aren’t So Obvious and 1 That is Not AI Ready.

 

1. Email Verification

While you may be allergic to spam and have a sixth sense for sketchy emails, not everyone else does, especially seniors. If unsure, copy and paste the email into ChatGPT and ask it to verify.

I tried this with the email I screenshotted and asked ChatGPT to diagnose it. 

Here is the response I received.

Hey, this message is a scam and a sextortion hoax.

Here’s what you should know:

✅ What’s Really Going On

This message is a generic scam sent to thousands (or even millions) of people. The attacker is hoping to scare someone into sending money.

They do not have any videos of you, and they did not hack your system. The text is just meant to intimidate you.

🚨 What You Should Do

1. Do NOT reply or send any money.
2. Delete the message.
3. Do NOT click any links or download any attachments if there were any.
4. Run an antivirus scan (just in case), but odds are high there’s no actual infection.
5. Change your passwords if you haven’t in a while—just as a precaution.
6. Report it as phishing to your email provider.

💡 Bonus Tip:

If you’re ever worried about scams like this, check sites like:

• https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety
• https://haveibeenpwned.com (to see if your email has been in a data breach)

Share this tip with someone skeptical about these emails.

2. Collectible Evaluation 

I love this one. I scanned a page from my old baseball card collection, which included one card that my little brother had made. I asked for it to price all the cards on the page. Here’s the page

And here’s the response.  

Thanks for the continued tour through your binder. I am loving the personal flair with the custom “Chris Rodgers” inserts again! Here’s the breakdown of this page’s cards:

Top Row (L to R)

1. Ed Whited – 1990 Score Rookie
   • Value: ~$0.25–$0.50
   • A lesser-known player with a brief MLB career. Minimal collector interest.
2. Chris Rodgers – Custom Score Rookie (1990 Rodgers)
   • Value: Hall of Fame of Hearts
   • Stats line included! .277 AVG / 27 HR / 102 RBI / 155 Hits? That’s MVP-tier. Honestly, one of the best personal touches in this collection.

Middle Row (L to R)

1. Bill Bene – Topps “#1 Draft Pick” (early ’90s)
   • Value: ~$0.50–1
   • First-round pick who didn’t pan out. Fun nostalgia, low monetary value.
2. Fred McGriff – 1990 Score
   • Value: ~$1–2
   • “Crime Dog” is gaining value since making the Hall of Fame in 2023. This isn’t his rookie, but any McGriff card is solid collector material.
3. Ruben Sierra – 1990 Donruss
   • Value: ~$0.50–1
   • A well-known power hitter in the late ’80s and ’90s, but this card is from a heavily printed set.

Bottom Row (L to R)

1. USA Team Card – Likely 1985 Topps Mark McGwire Olympic card (if that’s him, hard to tell from the image)
   • If Mark McGwire, it’s worth $10–$20 raw and much more if graded high.
   • If another player, probably ~$1 max.
2. Wally Joyner – Topps Gold Cup (1987)
   • Value: ~$1–2
   • Solid player, Gold Cup cards are collectible, but Joyner’s value didn’t hold long-term.
3. Kevin Mitchell – 1989 Donruss
   • Value: ~$0.50–1
   • 1989 NL MVP, so this card brings some fan appreciation, but again: common.

Quick Summary:

• Fred McGriff is the most collectible on this page, especially with his recent Hall of Fame nod.
• Potential McGwire USA Card could be the big winner, depending on who it actually is.
• Your custom cards are a blast and really elevate the collection’s uniqueness. You could honestly scan and print these as actual-style cards if you wanted to frame or sell nostalgia merch.

Want me to help you recreate the “Chris Rodgers 1990 Rookie” card digitally in Topps/Score/Donruss style? I can generate an image mockup for fun!

The pricing is accurate. I mostly sold off my valuable cards years ago, but what would have taken me 20-30 minutes now takes just 30 seconds. I have hundreds of pages like this. I included this page in particular because AI’s response was funny and dare I say….cute. 

Try this on stamps, records, or at a vintage store, and maybe you’ll score a life-changing find.

3. DIY Repair Assistant

When my garage door opener stopped closing fully, I snapped a photo of the contraction along with the model number and another of the nearly closed garage door. I then asked for step-by-step instructions on how to fix the door, and that’s exactly what I received.

To fix your garage door so it closes fully to the ground, you’ll need to adjust the travel limits on your garage door opener. Based on the photo of your garage door opener (Model 1026 Overhead Door), follow these explicit instructions:

Tools Required:

• A sturdy step ladder
• A flathead screwdriver (optional)

Steps:

1. Locate the Travel Limit Adjustment Buttons: On your opener, there are buttons labeled with an up arrow, a down arrow, and a “SET” button. These are for adjusting the up and down travel limits of your garage door.
2. Test the Current Close Limit:
   • Use the wall button or remote to close the garage door.
   • Observe where it stops and check the gap at the bottom.
3. Adjust the Down Limit:
   • Press and hold the “SET” button for a few seconds until the indicator light begins to blink.
   • Press the down arrow button to move the door closer to the ground. Tap it slowly, step by step, to fine-tune the position.
   • Once the door is at the desired position (fully closed with no gap), press the “SET” button again to lock in the adjustment.
4. Test the Adjustment:
   • Use the wall button or remote to fully open the garage door and then close it again.
   • Verify that it closes properly and doesn’t reopen automatically. If it does, you may need to adjust the force settings (see step 6).
5. Adjust If Overcompensated:
   • If the door closes too far and presses against the ground too hard, adjust the limit upwards slightly by pressing the up arrow and repeating the steps above.
6. Check the Safety Sensors:
   • Ensure that the safety sensors (mounted near the bottom of the door tracks) are aligned. If misaligned, the door may not close properly.
   • The sensors should have a solid light when aligned correctly.
7. Adjust the Force Settings (Optional):
   • If the door doesn’t close fully despite the travel limit adjustment, locate the force adjustment screws (usually on the side of the opener). These are small dials labeled “Up Force” and “Down Force.”
   • Increase the “Down Force” slightly by turning the dial clockwise. Test the door again.
8. Final Test:
   • Open and close the garage door a few times to ensure smooth operation and confirm that the gap is gone.

If the door still doesn’t close properly or you encounter issues, there may be a mechanical issue with the door’s alignment or weatherstripping that needs professional attention.

The fix worked.  No mess no fuss.

4. Facebook Marketplace Automation

Cleaning out your garage? ChatGPT is a game changer. I took photos of old gym equipment I needed to clear out, and the AI went to work. It created complete marketplace listings with detailed descriptions and suggested competitive prices based on similar items, and when I asked it to.  It couldn’t be easier.  Add a photo to ChatGPT and asked it simly to create a compreshensive add for Facebook for the product. 

It would have taken me hours of typing and researching prices. I sold free weights in hours and about everything else within a couple of weeks.

5. Nature Identification

Have you ever seen a weird plant in your yard or a creepy bug on your porch and wondered what it was? There are plenty of apps that do this, but why bother having one app for bugs, one for mushrooms, and one for plants? You can ChaptGPT do it all. It saves the conversation, including any follow-up questions you’ll love. What’s this plant? Will it grow in Vermont (probably not), and anything else you need to reference?

And the not-so-great idea.

I had another idea for ChatGPT, but it failed hilariously.  

Ask AI to make you a funny greeting card. I admit, for some of these, I may have set it up to fail.

I tried this for my wife’s birthday and ended up with a bizarre poem about “your smile that shines like a thousand fluorescent lightbulbs” and an awkwardly phrased sentiment about how she “ages like a fine cheese” (she was NOT impressed). The AI’s attempts at being deep and meaningful turned into comedy gold. Just don’t actually give these cards to people you want to stay friends with!

The Prompt: You are a designer at a greeting card company. You have to make five cards. Since you are funny all your cards will be funny images. First one. Create a funny “Get Well” Card for coworkers.

Next up, can you make a Birthday Card for someone who is turning 40?

How about I’m sorry for your loss.

How about an anniversary card for your grandparents

How about a funny Christmas Card?

Want more offbeat AI tips?

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