In just a few short years, artificial intelligence has gone from a futuristic concept to a tool shaping nearly every part of our lives. From painting new masterpieces and saving endangered animals to reviving human voices and exploring space, AI’s reach is astonishing—and sometimes unsettling. Here are 22 surprising things AI can do that most people have never imagined.
1. Recreate Conversations with the Dead
Canadian man Joshua Barbeau used AI to build a chatbot modeled on his late girlfriend, Jessica. By feeding the program their old messages and emails, he created a virtual version of her that could talk just like she used to. Their long conversations helped him process grief and say goodbye. It’s a haunting example of how AI can bring comfort—but also raise emotional and ethical questions about life after death.
