By Carter Barczak |Illustration by ChatGPT prompted by Chelsie Hall
Artificial intelligence isn’t arriving with fanfare—it’s slipping into everyday life through faster systems, smarter tools, and infrastructure already being built behind the scenes.
Appeared in Cityview Magazine, Vol. 42, Issue 1 (Jan/Feb 2026)
Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now. You’ve heard the term, you’ve seen it in the news, and you’ve probably used it without realizing it. What most people haven’t seen is how quickly it’s becoming part of everyday life and how much of the real change is happening behind the scenes.
I grew up in East Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in supply chain management. After spending time in the finance world early in my career, I joined Empirix Partners, an advisory firm that works across the data center space. Over the last two years, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with our CEO Zach Peña and Chief of Staff Ethan Summers, gaining exposure to the systems and infrastructure that make modern AI possible.
AI didn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere. The research behind it has been building for decades, but what changed recently is accessibility. Anyone can open a phone or laptop today and interact with tools that understand language, interpret context, and produce clear, useful responses in seconds. You no longer need a technical background to use AI. You simply talk to it, the same way you would ask a colleague or a friend for help.
Behind the scenes, the growth of AI is being driven by
a rapid expansion of the data center space. These facilities house the servers and hardware running millions of AI queries every day. They require enormous amounts of power, cooling, and coordination, and the pace at which they are being built is unlike anything the industry has seen before. My work puts me close to these projects, giving me a direct view into how fast technology is scaling and how quickly new capabilities are being deployed.This acceleration is why AI is showing up in more parts of everyday life.
Here’s the part that actually matters: this is where the changes start to reach you. Not in dramatic, sci-fi ways, but in everyday moments. You’ll feel it when something that used to take effort becomes easier or automatic. You’ll notice it when the apps and services you use start responding faster, predicting what you need, or cutting out steps that used to slow you down. It shows up in the tools that summarize information, in features that help students learn more effectively, and in services that make decisions faster than any person could. Most people are already using AI without thinking about it, and that influence is only going to grow.
One area where the impact will be felt strongly is healthcare. AI will help doctors review medical histories faster, understand large sets of results instantly, and spot patterns that are easy for humans to miss. Instead of long delays, information will be processed quickly, giving doctors more time to focus on patients and reducing the friction people usually feel in the system.
Homes are becoming smarter as well. Appliances, thermostats, and security systems are beginning to make small decisions automatically, improving comfort and reducing waste. Over time, these tools will learn your habits and preferences and begin taking small tasks off your plate without you asking.
Shopping is changing too. You’ll see more personalized recommendations, fewer out-of-stock issues, and checkout experiences that happen faster and with less effort. Retailers are using AI to better understand demand, improve inventory planning, and provide a smoother experience for customers.
Education will look different as well. Students will be able to learn at their own pace with AI tutors that never tire and adjust to their individual strengths and weaknesses. Teachers will have more support and better tools to work with, allowing them to focus on what students need most instead of repetitive administrative work.
Workplaces across every industry are also shifting. AI won’t replace most jobs, but it will change how many jobs are done. People who incorporate AI into their workflow will move faster, make better decisions, and handle more complex tasks. Whether you’re in healthcare, construction, finance, sales, or operations, AI will become a tool that helps you get more done in less time.
AI isn’t loud or dramatic—it quietly makes everyday life simpler, faster, and more intuitive.
Even in my own work, AI functions less like a shortcut and more like a sounding board. I use it to pressure-test ideas, organize thoughts, understand broader market context, and clarify fast-moving news or developments. It helps me think more clearly, not just work more quickly. You can use it in the same way. Treat it like a tool for reflection and exploration. The clearer you are about what you’re trying to understand or refine, the more useful the responses become.
Looking ahead, AI will soon be able to understand not just text, but images, audio, and video in real time. It will take actions for you, whether scheduling, planning, or coordinating tasks. It will be integrated into cars, appliances, public services, and countless other systems. These changes will not feel sudden. They’ll arrive quietly, one small improvement at a time, until the technology feels normal.
What consumers experience is always a few steps behind what is happening in the data center space. As these facilities expand and new capacity becomes available, AI models grow more capable and more responsive. The public will see new features, new tools, and new possibilities, but behind each of those advancements is the infrastructure being built right now.
The goal of this column is to bring clarity to all of this. In each issue, I’ll break down one part of everyday life that AI is shaping, explain what the changes mean, and show you how to use the tools available to you. No jargon, no assumptions, and no hype. Just a straightforward look at the technology that is becoming a part of everyone’s routines.
AI is not something to be intimidated by. It is a tool that, when understood and used correctly, can make life easier, work more efficient, and information more accessible. My hope is that this column gives you the context and confidence to navigate this new landscape as it continues to unfold.
I look forward to exploring it with you.
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