Top 3 Everyday Apps or Software Secretly Powered by AI (And How to Disable This Feature)

Photo Credits: Emiliano Vittoriosi via Unsplash

Before it became widely popular, the groundwork for Artificial Intelligence (AI) began in the early 1940s and 1950s, with significant milestones scattered across the mid-20th century. From there, multiple challenges and breakthroughs opened doors to what it is today—a staple feature in almost every software and application.

These days, you’ve probably heard of countless numbers of AI-powered apps or software that are all aiming to “wow” their audience with the promise of a more advanced app or gadget. Although it’s true that AI has the potential to make our lives faster and our daily grind much easier, there’s also the other side of the coin.

It’s a double-edged sword (which is true to all technological advancements after all).

What’s even worse is, tech giants are going above and beyond to integrate AI into our everyday lives, and sadly, we’re not always aware of it.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m not against AI. I can appreciate a lot of nifty technological advancements just like any other human being. However, I’m not a fan of how every tech company is using it to gather as much data about everyone as possible.

Want to hear the crazier part? Not every company gives people the option to opt out of this AI-training-slash-data-gathering scheme.

So, with all of that in mind, I thought it would be fitting to compile a list of the top AI-powered applications or software that we use daily.

Photo Credits: Jakob Owens via Unsplash

Google Photos – AI for Image Recognition and Categorization

Key AI Features: Facial recognition and grouping, object detection, landmark detection, and automatic album creation

With the help of advanced AI and machine learning, Google Photos automatically categorize and tag our photos. At first glance, it doesn’t seem like it’s an awful deal, especially because of the enhanced user experience and how much it helps streamline your photo management.

On top that, you can also take advantage of its contextual search capabilities, allowing you to search for photos using specific terms like “beach” or “coconut.” You can even have access to Google Photo’s advanced editing tools and intelligent photo enhancements, which is particularly useful because it combines storage and editing software in one app.

Unfortunately, there’s a catch—your personal photos are all being analyzed to train Google’s AI and you can’t exactly disable this feature.

So, if you’re not comfortable knowing that your photos are being analyzed, then you may have to find an alternative software for your photo storage.

And if you’re willing to go down a rabbit hole, try looking up how much data Google is gathering from its users, you might just end up replacing A LOT of your apps if you’re stricter about your data privacy than most.

Photo Credits: Souvik Banerjee via Unsplash

LinkedIn – AI for Professional Profiling and Hiring

Key AI Features: Profile optimization tools, enhanced messaging capabilities, advanced networking features, and automated job matching

LinkedIn is one of the few networking apps that joined the bandwagon later compared to other social networking apps. However, that doesn’t make their AI game any less efficient or noteworthy. In fact, every single facet of this professional networking giant utilizes AI.

One of its key AI features, profile writing assistant, allows you to enhance your profile without the need manually update them on your own. Jobhunters now have access to tailored recommendations that are based on industry trends and even SEO factors.

Even recruiters can take advantage of LinkedIn’s AI-generated recruiter messages, which allows talent scouts to create personalized messages based on their potential candidate’s profiles.

It doesn’t seem like it’s too much right? And everything seems like these features were all added to help the user…not exactly.

Although people have some concerns over several points, bias, fairness, and transparency for automated decision-making. The most eyebrow-raising AI-feature boils down to their data-gathering and how they’re using it to train their generative AI model.

The good news is that you can opt of this one, although it’s enabled by default. Just go to Settings -> Data Privacy -> Data for Generative AI.

Or you may also click this link: https://lnkd.in/gbVTmnVC settings/data-for-ai-improvement

Only a few select regions are exempted from the mass “automatic opt-in,” which includes the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland.

Microsoft Window’s Recall – AI for Content Search Across Your PC

Key AI Features: Visual Timeline and Snapshots and local AI processing

Of all the recent product and feature launch I came across; I consider this next app as one of the most controversial one.

Technically, Recall is not exactly an app on its own, but more of a feature. Introduced for Windows Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft’s Recall feature was initially designed to enhance productivity by showcasing a user’s computer activities through a visual timeline. This AI-powered application aims to help user easily trace, or “recall,” their digital footprints, which is programmed to make it easier to locate previously accessed images, documents, and websites.

With this feature, that means every digital asset you viewed in your device will be analyzed through screenshots. Images, videos, documents, anything that their app could take a snapshot of.

When Recall was initially introduced, there were also issues concerning its unencrypted data storage. Users were also worried about their privacy, especially with the extensive indexing of personal data. However, due to all the backlash and security concerns, Microsoft postponed launching this feature.

Unfortunately, this feature cannot be disable. Even the initial option which allowed some users to access the option to opt out of Recall was considered as a bug, according to Microsoft.

Although Microsoft has since improved this feature’s security, users are still wary of how intrusive this AI-powered application will be and the risk it poses to their private lives.

AI-Powered Applications and Software: Weigh the Risks, Maximize the Benefits

We can’t deny the fact that AI-powered applications and software are now becoming a part of our daily lives, which is not exactly a bad thing. In fact, AI is being developed so that our work processes more efficient, manual tasks become automated, and for our lives to be much easier.

Technology, at its core, is there to help us advance us a society.

If you’re still at an impasse about your stance on AI, you might have to rethink that and consider the advantages it can offer.

Of course, while AI can significantly make our lives and work easier, it’s still essential to know how our data is being collected and used. You can’t always disable or opt out of these AI-powered features, but you still have the option to use the app or find an alternative that still respects your privacy while offering the same results.