How do you introduce AI products to less tech-savvy friends?
We all have friends who are unfamiliar with the field of AI, but they might be potential users of AI related products.
If you're making AI product on PH, have you ever tried showing it to friends who aren't techies? How do you tackle the following questions:
1. How do you break down tech concept so it's easy to get? Any strategies to avoid overwhelming people with jargons?
2. How do you use everyday example to help your non tech friends get what AI products do?
3. What are some common misconceptions about AI that you need to address?
Break down complex AI technical concepts into the most fundamental parts. For example, instead of using the term "machine learning algorithms", you can say "a method that enables computers to learn and make judgments in a way similar to humans, by using a large number of examples". Just like when we input many pictures into an AI model, it can learn to distinguish between cats and dogs. This is similar to how we, as children, could tell cats and dogs apart after seeing many pictures of them.
Great questions! I totally get what you're saying—sometimes explaining AI to non-tech friends can feel like you're speaking a whole different language.
I try to simplify the language as much as possible. Instead of using complex terms, I’ll compare AI to things they already know. For example, "Think of AI as a super-smart assistant that learns from your preferences." I use analogies to make it relatable—like how Netflix recommends movies based on what you’ve watched before.
I love to show them AI in action using tools they might already use, like voice assistants (Siri or Alexa) or spam filters in email. These examples help them see how AI works without diving too deep into the tech side.
One big one I often hear is that AI is like a human brain or that it’s conscious. I always make sure to clarify that AI is just really good at patterns and predictions, but it doesn't "think" or "feel" like we do. It’s more about data and algorithms than human-like intelligence.
I often take the “show, don’t tell” approach. Instead of explaining all the complex AI stuff, I demonstrate how the product can make their life easier or solve a specific problem they have. Once they see how it works, they get it way quicker.
I try to minimize technical jargon unless necessary. Terms like "machine learning," "neural networks," and "algorithms" can be confusing, so I replace them with more digestible terms like “learn from experience” or “automatically adjust based on new info