The Weirdest Things People Use AI For (That Actually Work)

Artificial intelligence is no longer hiding in labs or corporate dashboards. It’s now making dinner, giving dating advice, and yes, even talking to dogs.
Here are some of the strangest, real, and surprisingly effective ways people are using AI today — with real companies behind them.

🐶 1. Talking to Pets

Pet tech companies are training models to interpret animal sounds and gestures.
Seattle-based FluentPet built a system that lets dogs press buttons linked to recorded words. Some owners report dogs using over 50 buttons to “communicate.” The company is working with university researchers to study language-learning patterns in animals.

Meanwhile, MeowTalk, developed by a former Amazon Alexa engineer, uses machine learning to classify cat meows into emotional categories like hunger, comfort, or attention-seeking. The app has more than a million downloads on Google Play.

No one’s claiming cats are speaking English yet...but it’s a glimpse at what AI-assisted animal communication might look like.

💌 2. AI Dating Coaches

Apps like RizzGPT and YourMove.AI analyze dating profiles and messages, suggesting tone or topics to improve engagement. Some even offer real-time conversation prompts through smart glasses or mobile interfaces.

While there’s no peer-reviewed data on success rates, user reviews and media reports suggest these tools help people overcome anxiety and start conversations more easily.

AI might not make anyone more attractive, but it can help them sound more confident.

🧠 3. Therapy Chatbots That Actually Listen

Mental health apps like Wysa, Woebot, and Replika use conversational AI built on psychological frameworks like cognitive behavioral therapy.

Wysa has received an FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in the United States — a signal that its AI platform may meet regulatory standards for clinical mental-health use. Early trials show that users experience measurable improvements in mood when combined with guided exercises, according to the company’s published research summaries.

These apps don’t replace professional therapy, but they do offer accessible emotional support — especially for people who can’t reach a counselor.

🍳 4. AI Chefs in Your Kitchen

Cooking apps such as ChefGPT, Spoonacular, and Cookpad AI use vision and text models to recommend recipes from whatever ingredients you have left.

Users upload fridge photos or type “I have rice, tomatoes, and tofu,” and the AI responds with meal ideas.
There’s little independent data on accuracy or food waste reduction, but feedback from early adopters suggests the tools are helpful for students, remote workers, and busy families trying to minimize grocery runs.

The results might not win Michelin stars... but they can save your dinner.

🎨 5. AI Artists and Everyday Creativity

AI art tools like DALL·E 3, Midjourney, and Leonardo AI are now standard creative companions. Designers use them for brainstorming, product mockups, and even tattoo sketches.

Open-source platforms such as Hugging Face and CivitAI have also made custom art models available to the public. Thousands of creators train small, personalized versions for specific aesthetics.

Far from replacing artists, these tools are expanding what people can create without formal training.

🛏️ 6. AI Sleep and Health Coaches

AI health devices are moving into bedrooms.
Smart sleep systems like Eight Sleep and Oura track temperature, movement, and heart rate to optimize rest. Eight Sleep’s Pod 5 uses predictive algorithms to adjust bed temperature through the night.

The company reports that users fall asleep faster and feel more rested, though these are self-reported metrics. Independent clinical studies are still limited, but the idea of AI-assisted rest is quickly gaining traction.

🧦 7. AI Fashion Stylists

Retailers like Zalando, Stitch Fix, and StyleDNA use AI to personalize shopping experiences. Their systems analyze purchase history, body data, and preferences to recommend outfits or predict fit.

According to McKinsey’s 2024 State of Fashion Technology report, personalization and fit prediction are among the top growth areas in retail AI, improving customer satisfaction and reducing returns.

Fashion may still be about taste — but now data helps decide what ends up in your closet.

🎯 The Takeaway

AI is not only transforming industries. It’s creeping into the quiet corners of everyday life — how we cook, sleep, date, and even connect with our pets.

The pattern is simple: when technology meets human curiosity, it gets weird… and useful.

AI might not understand emotions or art the way we do, but it’s learning how to make our daily routines a little easier and occasionally a lot funnier.