What I Did With AI This Week
Technology caused the problems—and helped clean them up
This week was mostly technology misbehaving, which is apparently one of its hobbies.
I got a broken computer working again
After a hardware failure, I had a computer stuck in repair loops, Windows corruption, driver problems, and several symptoms that did not point neatly to one cause.
I used AI while working through the possibilities, testing fixes, and deciding what hardware was worth replacing.
What I got out of it: I eventually got the computer running properly again instead of replacing the whole machine.
Why AI was useful: I could keep feeding it each new symptom and test result so the troubleshooting changed along with the problem.
I fixed Bluetooth without replacing anything else
Once the new hardware was in, Bluetooth still was not working.
AI helped me narrow it down to the right Intel driver.
What I got out of it: One more problem fixed without buying another part.
Why AI was useful: I could work from the exact hardware and symptom instead of randomly installing drivers and hoping one stuck.
I figured out what hardware was worth replacing
During the PC mess, I had to decide whether the problem was the motherboard, drive, RAM, GPU, or something else.
AI helped me work through the evidence and narrow down what was actually worth spending money on.
What I got out of it: Less chance of buying expensive parts that were not the problem.
Why AI was useful: I could keep adding new test results and rule things in or out as the picture changed.
I spent less time doing math in a video game
I have even used AI while playing Final Fantasy XIV to compare market-board options and work through repetitive calculations.
What I got out of it: Less time doing bookkeeping and more time actually playing.
Why AI was useful: I could hand over the repetitive comparison work instead of building a spreadsheet for something I was supposed to be enjoying.
I saved a computer.
I avoided some unnecessary hardware guesses.
I fixed one stubborn driver problem.
And I did less math for fun.
Technology caused several problems and, for once, technology also helped clean them up.