How to Explain AI to Your Family During the Holiday Season

Artificial intelligence has become a hot topic of conversation around the dinner table. Perhaps your uncle is wondering if the robots are going to take his job, or your cousin is considering investing in AI stocks. And what do your children really say about their new AI friends – should you be worried?

The rapid advances in AI technology have made it more visible than ever. Here is a comprehensive guide that answers the most common questions about AI 2025.

What is AI really good for?

There is still much that AI cannot do, that is true. But the technology has proven effective in organizing and understanding large amounts of data and documents. This means that AI can:

• Plan vacations and create itineraries

• Summarize complex information and long documents

• Write code and develop simple applications

• Analyze data and identify patterns

Important safety advice when using AI

Although AI apps may sound convincing and conversational, they can make mistakes. Here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Always double-check the facts and sources that the AI refers to

• Avoid entering sensitive or private information into AI tools

• Check your employer's AI policy before using tools at work

• Be critical of AI-generated content

Will AI really take over our jobs?

The short answer: No. Yes. Maybe?

Decades-old fears of robots taking over jobs have escalated during 2025 as AI has improved, tech companies have made layoffs, and prominent industry figures have warned that office jobs are at stake.

What do industry leaders say?

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has said that today's CEOs will be the last to lead completely human workforces. Verizon recently laid off 13,000 employees citing changes in technology and the economy. Newly graduated computer scientists have also reported difficulties in finding work.

The more nuanced truth

Experts seem to agree that AI is definitely changing our jobs, but not everyone believes that technology will completely replace positions. Some argue that AI will create new types of roles, while others believe AI frees workers to focus on more rewarding aspects of their jobs.

Conclusion: AI is changing the job market, but full automation of all jobs is not a realistic scenario in the short term.

Is the AI bubble about to burst?

No one knows for sure, but it is a central question for the stock market and the economy at large.

AI has drawn comparisons to the early days of the internet – and not always in a positive way. Tech companies have invested billions of dollars in AI infrastructure, but critics question whether demand is sufficient to justify these expenses.

Nvidia as an indicator

Take Nvidia as an example, the company behind the chips in massive AI data centers. Nvidia's results are usually a weather vane for AI demand. When the company recently presented strong results, the market breathed a sigh of relief – but the sentiment was short-lived as stocks fell towards the end of the week.

This may be a sign that no one, including capital-strong investors and focused analysts, really knows exactly how long the AI momentum will last.

How do I detect AI-generated content on social media?

Welcome to AI slop – unwanted AI-generated photos and videos that are either poorly made, downright confusing, or just... why?

As tech giants have woven AI into their products, including social media, AI slop has exploded.

How to clean your feed from AI content

Instagram:

1. Tap the menu icon on your profile

2. Under "What you see," tap "Content settings"

3. Tap "Reset Suggested Content"

TikTok:

1. Tap the menu icon and select "Settings and privacy"

2. Select "Content settings" under "Content & display"

3. Tap "Update your For You feed"

What is "vibe coding"?

You don’t need to know anything about programming to understand vibe coding. It refers to writing simple commands in plain Swedish (or English) in an AI app to generate code.

An example: You can ask ChatGPT to create an app for gluten-free recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less. The AI can write the code in a few seconds.

This has democratized coding and enables people without a technical background to create simple applications and tools.

Is AI making our electric bills more expensive?

Electricity prices have increased, with an average price increase of 13% since 2022. But is AI contributing to these increases?

The answer is yes, although it is not the only factor. The cost of maintaining and upgrading the power grid – which is not related to AI – plays a major role in determining electricity costs.

AI’s impact on electricity consumption

AI has created increased demand for electricity, which affects prices. This demand may also require more upgrades of data centers to meet capacity.

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Energy from 2024, data centers are expected to account for between 6.7% and 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028, up from 4.4% in 2023.

For Sweden: This is a global trend that also affects European electricity markets where many large data centers are established.

Is AI safe for children?

It is an important question, and the answer likely depends on how children use it, what they use it for, and whether their use is supervised by parents or teachers.

Positive aspects

Some teachers see benefits in students using AI for research and collaboration. AI can be an effective learning tool when used correctly.

Safety concerns

A wave of concerning reports and lawsuits claiming that AI companion apps have contributed to self-harm and suicide among teenagers have raised safety concerns about AI’s impact on young people.

New safety measures

Tech companies are launching new parental controls:

• OpenAI gives parents more control over how ChatGPT interacts with their teenager

• Instagram allows parents to block their children from chatting with AI characters on the platform

• Character.AI prevents teenagers from engaging in back-and-forth conversations with characters

Apple and Google also offer tools to help parents manage app usage and set screen time limits.

What can we expect in the future?

There is much we don't know about AI, but one thing is certain: the technology will not disappear in the near future.

However, we don’t know what AI questions the future will pose. The technology may very well grow and develop in unexpected ways, just as the internet itself did.

Conclusions: AI 2025 in brief

• AI is a powerful tool but not infallible – use it with critical evaluation

• The job market is changing but mass unemployment due to AI is unlikely

• Investments in AI are extensive, but the future is uncertain

• AI-generated content is becoming more common on social media

• Energy consumption is increasing due to AI data centers

• Child safety requires active parental supervision and awareness

Find the right AI tools for your needs

Are you looking for AI tools for work, studies, or private life? At Aival.se, you will find Sweden's largest library with over 300 carefully selected AI tools categorized by application area.

Explore our library and find the AI tools that suit your needs – from productivity tools and creative AI services to specialized solutions for different industries.

Written by: aival.se