I Used AI as My Personal IT Department

AI has a lot of use cases you might not realize. One I stumbled into: personal IT support.

A few weeks ago, my laptop was driving me crazy. Sound cutting in and out on calls. Slow startup. Random freezes. Windows kept telling me everything was "up to date" — but something was clearly off.

So I tried something new: I just asked AI for help.

Not for code. Not for writing. Just... "Hey, my sound keeps cutting out. What should I check?"

And it worked.

What happened

We talked through issues I was having on my computer, including sound issues. AI suggested checking my Realtek audio drivers — turns out Windows wasn't surfacing updates that I needed or somehow I had missed these. Doing the updates fixed the sound instantly.

Then I kept going. I was having startup issues. AI walked me through disabling "Fast Startup" (a Windows setting that causes more problems than it solves). Done.

At some point I hit menus I didn't understand. So I tried something new — sent a screenshot and asked "what am I looking at?" AI broke it down, told me what mattered, what to click.

That unlocked everything. It was amazing to me how good AI was at diagnosing my screenshots and walking me through steps in a clear way. I cleaned up my browser extensions, privacy settings, notifications. Then moved to my phone — location permissions, cookies, tracking settings.

By the end, both devices felt faster, cleaner, and more secure.

Why this matters

This is an AI use case nobody talks about: personal IT support.

Not dramatic. Not flashy. Just practical help with the boring stuff most people ignore because it's confusing.

AI can diagnose issues, suggest fixes, and walk you through settings step by step. And when you're stuck? Screenshot, ask, fix.

Why I'm sharing this

A lot of people still don't know how to actually use AI. They've heard about it, maybe tried it once, but it feels abstract.

This is one example of bringing it to life. Not writing essays or generating images — just solving a real problem I had.

I share examples like this because seeing AI in action makes it click. Once you see one use case, you start seeing them everywhere.

If you want to go deeper, I've got more examples of how I use AI on this site — from data analysis to productivity to creative projects. Check out the Learn AI section or browse more AI in Action posts.

Try it yourself

Here's a prompt to get started:

"I want to do a privacy and security checkup on my [computer/phone]. Can you walk me through the most important settings to check? Ask me questions about what I'm seeing and help me decide what to change."

Quick checklist: Computer + Phone Cleanup

Things worth checking every few months. Pick a few to start — you don't have to do everything at once.

Computer (10 things)

1. Run all updates — Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates. Install everything.
2. Check for hidden driver updates — Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates. This is where audio/graphics fixes hide that Windows doesn't auto-install.
3. Block third-party cookies — Chrome → Settings → Privacy & security → Cookies. Block third-party cookies. This stops sites from tracking you across the internet.
4. Clean up startup apps — Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Startup tab. Disable anything you don't need launching automatically.
5. Turn on Storage Sense — Settings → System → Storage. Auto-cleans temp files so you don't have to.
6. Run antivirus scan — Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Quick scan. Just do it.
7. Check firewall is on — Windows Security → Firewall. Should be green/on.
8. Audit browser extensions — Go to chrome://extensions. Remove anything you don't recognize or don't use.
9. Check saved passwords for breaches — Chrome → Settings → Safety Check. It'll flag compromised passwords.
10. Turn on 2-factor authentication — For your important accounts (email, banking, social). If you haven't, do it now.

Phone (10 things)

1. Check location permissions — Settings → Privacy → Location. Change apps from "Always" → "While Using." Turn off location entirely for apps that don't need it (games, shopping).
2. Review camera & microphone access — Settings → Privacy → Camera / Microphone. Remove access from apps that don't obviously need it.
3. Delete apps you don't use — If you haven't opened it in 6 months, delete it. Old apps = forgotten permissions.
4. Turn off ad tracking — Settings → Privacy → Tracking (iPhone) or Ads (Android). Turn off personalized ads, interest-based ads, ad measurement.
5. Turn on Prevent Cross-Site Tracking — Safari settings. Stops websites from following you around the internet.
6. Hide your IP from trackers — Safari settings → Hide IP Address → "From Trackers."
7. Clear cookies and browsing data — Safari or Chrome settings → Clear History and Website Data. You'll get logged out of some sites — that's normal.
8. Check for software updates — Settings → General → Software Update. Keep your phone current.
9. Review account security — Go to your Google or Apple account settings. Check security events, sign out old devices.
10. Turn on 2-factor authentication — For your Apple ID, Google account, and anything important.

A quick note on cookies

Cookies are little memory notes websites leave on your device so they can remember you. Some are helpful (keeping you logged in). Some are tracking cookies that follow you from site to site.

When you clear cookies or change tracking settings, you might get logged out of some websites. That's normal — it just means your device got a little cleaner.

General safety reminder

Be careful clicking on links from sites or emails you don't recognize. Most security problems start with one bad click. When in doubt, don't click.

Not a tech person. Just someone who asked AI for help and ended up with a cleaner, faster, more secure setup. You can do this too.

Quick note: This guide is for general informational purposes only. Device settings, apps, and operating systems change frequently, and steps may vary by phone, computer, or software version. The tips shared here are based on general best practices and personal experience, not official guidance from device manufacturers. Use discretion when changing settings, and back up important data first. I can't guarantee results or prevent all privacy risks. Technology changes fast — if something looks different on your device, that's normal.