November 7, 2025 By: JK Tech
Based on insights from A. J. Jacobs’ feature in The New York Times on living 48 hours without AI.
A recent experiment highlighted just how dependent we’ve become on artificial intelligence in our day-to-day lives. What initially appeared to be a simple challenge quickly revealed something more meaningful. AI isn’t just a futuristic technology we occasionally interact with. It now plays a part in some of our most routine actions, often without us even noticing. Trying to avoid it for just 48 hours turned out to be far more complicated than expected and offered a fresh perspective on how deeply AI is integrated into the world around us.
Understanding what “no AI” means
To make the experiment meaningful, the definition of AI had to stretch beyond the more obvious generative tools. It included anything that learns, predicts or adapts. So the usual morning routine suddenly became a minefield. Face unlock on the phone uses AI. The social media feed that knows exactly what you like uses AI. Even the news notifications popping up are prioritized by algorithms.
Trying to avoid all that immediately showed how much we rely on invisible machine decision-making from the moment we wake up.
Suddenly, getting around becomes old-school
Transportation offered another moment of realization. Rideshares depend on AI. So do updated transit schedules, traffic prediction, and bike systems that shift based on demand. Without any of that, navigating a busy city feels slow and uncertain. Maps have to be checked manually. Estimated arrival times become guesswork.
It becomes easy to miss how much confidence and comfort we’ve gained from automated systems guiding our every move.
Even everyday basics rely on AI
The experiment also looked at life’s simple tasks. Unlocking a phone with face ID, scrolling through a feed that knows exactly what we’ll stop and look at, or glancing at news alerts that feel perfectly tailored to us, all of these rely on AI. Paying with a credit card? Fraud detection algorithms are working behind the scenes. Taking a photo with a phone camera? Computational photography enhances the image automatically.
Choosing where to eat? Ratings and suggestions are shaped by machine learning.These are not tools we consciously choose as “AI.” They’re just part of how the world now operates.
Work life feels very different without technology’s helping hand
The absence of AI was most noticeable while working. Research takes longer without quick suggestions. Writing becomes slower without automated corrections. Everyday tools meant to save time keep revealing themselves as algorithm-powered.
It highlights how much our productivity already depends on intelligent assistance. Going without it feels like stepping back several years.
What we can take away from this experiment
The biggest learning is not that AI is everywhere, but what that means for us.
Here are the key reflections:
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AI has become a quiet but essential part of daily routines
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Avoiding it entirely isn’t realistic anymore
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People deserve to know when and how algorithms are influencing them
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Awareness helps us make better choices about the future of technology
A bigger conversation ahead
This 48-hour challenge shows that AI is no longer something separate from our lives. It supports the systems we trust, the decisions we make and the speed at which we work. Instead of asking whether we should use AI, the more important question is how we can guide it responsibly.
As AI continues to evolve, staying informed and thoughtful will help ensure that the technology works for us, not the other way around.
