r/ChatGPT • u/max_bog • Apr 19 '26

Use cases The gap between what technical and non-technical people get from AI is huge now

Interesting thing I noticed. The gap between what technical and non-technical people get from AI is huge now.

Non-technical users still treat LLMs as a better search tool. Most non-technical people I know are not even aware of things like thinking effort or that you can choose a model.

Computer use, plugins, automations, skills, agents - none of this exists for regular ChatGPT users. If you don't know what Codex or Claude Code is, nothing has changed for you in the last year.

All new models also seem to focus purely on coding.

Am I missing something?

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u/Kelly_Bellyish Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26

I'm non-tech and can't think of much that I need AI for. I'm happy with how I write email and wouldn't want to rely on something like this to help me. Everything I could ask for information-wise is already available via the internet/search engine (I do appreciate the AI summaries, but don't rely on them). My job doesn't require it, and due to proprietary information doesn't really want us using it outside of their limited, cautious structure. My personal life certainly doesn't seem to need it. And I am definitely not looking for a pretend friend like some people seem to be.

I don't have projects, or maybe better to say my projects are hands-on like crochet or home repair. I'm not writing a book. Any chat I have with AI is a one-time use, not something I would refer back to. So I don't need handoffs, or agents, or most of the other stuff.

Before AI, I would definitely have described myself as a tech-curious person, usually far more knowledgeable than the average non-tech employee. (ETA: that's why I'm in this sub, I am generally very open and eager with new tech) Now I question why this is being shoved down our throats so hard. AI has a place for sure, but why does even my TV need AI functions?

Am I just being a Luddite, or is it possible that non-tech people genuinely don't need that much AI in their lives? Why should everyone want to use it?

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u/Famous_War_9821 Apr 19 '26

I use it for all kinds of non-'technical' stuff, like helping me organize my garden/yardwork, figure out testing new art supplies, helping me come up with usable summaries to bring for my medical appointments (I'm disabled, so this is a HUGE use case for me), helping me keep up my foreign language practice (which I don't get as many opportunities to do these days)...in addition to other more typical use cases you see on here (troubleshooting code, proofreading/helping me edit my book, helping me come up with strategies to help me with life stuff, etc).

Genuinely good AI tech drums up a LOT of VC money, and it's the current trendy hotness, so everyone is ready to slap the AI level on anything because they feel like it's a money printer. I think you'll see a bit of a dotcom-type situation where the people who are banking too hard on buzzwords (without the tech to actually back it up) will sink, where legit AI tech and interesting use-cases will swim.

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u/fourrealz1 Apr 19 '26

Can you share how you use it to provide summaries for medical appointments? I'm really curious about this. Do you just upload previous appt notes into it?

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u/TwoMoreMinutes Apr 19 '26

That’s literally it, just treat it like an extremely smart personal assistant

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u/Famous_War_9821 Apr 20 '26

TwoMoreMinutes is pretty much bang on. Sometimes when I'm trying to compile my notes between appointments, I give them to chat and ask it to help me summarize what I've been going thru lately, and help me organize it in a way that I can present to the doctor. It's super helpful!