Originally aired on 7/21/2026 for WGN Radio 720. 

When artificial intelligence first came along, a lot of people thought it was just another gimmick. I wasn't one of them.

I've spent my career looking for practical ways to save time, save money, and make life a little easier. AI is one of the few technologies I've seen that actually lives up to the hype.

No, it can't magically erase your debt or make you rich overnight. But it can help you solve everyday money problems in minutes, often for free.

Here are seven ways I use AI to save time, make smarter financial decisions, and keep more money in my pocket.

1. Negotiate Lower Bills

Most companies quietly raise your bill every year, hoping you won't notice—or won't bother calling.

Let AI do the homework.

Tell it what company you're calling, what you're paying, and ask it to write a negotiation script. It'll even suggest competitor prices and the best arguments to use when you talk to customer retention.

You still have to make the call.

But you'll sound like you've done your homework.

2. Find Where Your Money Is Really Going

Think you know where your money goes?

Most of us don't.

Download your credit card or bank statement (remove personal information first), upload it to an AI chatbot, and ask it to:

• categorize your spending

• identify subscriptions

• compare this month to last month

• flag unusual expenses

You might discover you're paying for three streaming services you forgot about—or that your grocery bill quietly jumped 30%.

3. Translate Financial Jargon Into English

Ever receive a credit card agreement, insurance policy, or loan document and think...

"I have absolutely no idea what I'm reading."

You're not alone.

Paste the document into AI and ask:

"Explain this in plain English."

Then ask:

"What should I watch out for?"

It will often point out hidden fees, automatic renewals, penalties, or clauses you probably would have skipped.

4. Decode a Medical Bill

Medical bills are confusing—even for people who work in healthcare.

If a bill looks suspicious, upload it (removing personal information if you prefer) and ask AI to explain each charge.

Then ask:

"Does anything here look unusual or duplicated?"

Finally, have it draft a request for an itemized bill.

Sometimes simply asking the right questions can save you hundreds of dollars.

5. Compare Financial Products

Trying to choose between:

• two credit cards

• two mortgages

• two insurance policies

• two investment accounts?

Instead of comparing pages of fine print, paste both offers into AI and ask:

"Which one will cost me less over the next year?"

Or...

"Compare these side by side and tell me the pros and cons."

It won't make the decision for you.

But it makes understanding the differences a whole lot easier.

6. Fight Junk Fees

Late fee?

Bank fee?

Hotel fee?

Cancellation fee?

Before paying it, ask AI to write a polite but firm email requesting the charge be waived.

Mention that you've been a loyal customer and ask for a one-time courtesy credit.

Companies say yes more often than you'd think.

7. Ask the Money Questions You're Embarrassed to Ask

This may be my favorite use of AI.

Maybe you've always wondered:

• What's a Roth IRA?

• What's the difference between APR and APY?

• Should I lease or buy?

• What exactly is an HSA?

AI doesn't judge.

Ask it to explain things like you're a beginner.

Then keep asking follow-up questions until you truly understand.

That's how real learning happens.

One Important Rule

Here's the catch.

AI is incredibly helpful.

It's also capable of being confidently wrong.

Never assume it's giving you perfect information.

Use it to:

✅ explain

✅ compare

✅ brainstorm

✅ draft letters

✅ summarize

But before making a major financial decision—especially involving taxes, investments, legal documents, or retirement—verify the information with trusted sources or a qualified professional.

Think of AI as an incredibly smart assistant...

Not your financial advisor.

The Bottom Line

The biggest mistake people make with AI isn't using it too much.

It's not using it at all.

If you already have a smartphone or computer, you probably have access to one of the most powerful free financial tools ever created.

You don't have to use it for everything.

But using it for the seven tasks above could save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.