AKADEMIJAAI isn’t just for the computer
In the lesson How to start using AI at work (safely) we talked about emails and spreadsheets. But AI often saves the most time on your phone: when your hands are full, when there’s a screen in front of you that makes no sense, or when you need to prepare for a conversation and all the time you have is a car journey.
Three things almost every AI app can do: it sees (the camera), it listens and talks (voice) and it remembers the conversation (you can carry on later).
1. A photo instead of a description
An error message, a baffling letter from a government office, the label on a device, the whiteboard after a meeting. Instead of retyping it — take a photo.
“What does this message mean? Explain it simply and tell me what the safe first steps are. If it needs IT to fix it — say so.”
“Here's a photo of the whiteboard after our meeting. Make a task list: who, what, by when. Where it's unclear — mark it with a question mark.”
Before you take the photo, look at what else has made it into the frame: someone else’s document, a screen with client data, children’s faces.
2. Talking by voice when your hands are full
Voice mode lets you talk to AI as if you were on a phone call. It’s handy when you’re walking, driving or cooking.
“Help me prepare for tomorrow's conversation with a client. Ask me one question at a time, and at the end boil my answers down to three main points.”
3. A meeting summary
For work meetings, use the company’s tool — e.g. Teams with transcription, or Copilot if your company has it. A personal app that records colleagues or clients is no place for work conversations.
And most important of all: the participants must know that the meeting is being recorded.
“From this transcript, write a summary: decisions, tasks with owners and deadlines, open questions. Don't add anything that wasn't said.”
4. Rehearsing a difficult conversation
A salary conversation, an unhappy client, chasing a debt. AI can play the other side — and be tougher than the real thing.
“Play an unhappy client whose order is late. Be rude, but realistic. After five exchanges, stop and tell me where I answered well, and where I got defensive instead of solving the problem.”
5. Learn something new in 10 minutes
It’s the same principle our “Learn with AI” button works on.
“Explain [topic] to me as if I were a complete beginner. After each part, ask me one question to check that I've understood. Start from what I already know — ask me.”
6. Travel and language
A menu in a foreign language, a road sign, a conversation with hotel staff — the camera and voice translate in an instant. For important documents (contracts, invoices), still check the translation.
Where the line is: AI is the first step, not the decision
Who decides
What to try this week
- Take a photo of one message or document you don’t understand and ask for an explanation.
- While driving or walking, practise one conversation by voice.
- Learn one new thing with “explain it as if I’m a beginner and test me”.
Check yourself
Five questions on what you’ve just read. At the end you’ll get a certificate with your score.