Finishing 2025 and getting ready for 2026, Many of us make ambitious New Year's resolutions. Examples include getting healthy, saving money, advancing your career, and learning something new. But the truth is, most resolutions wear off by February.
Research shows that less than 10% of people actually achieve their New Year's resolutions over the long term. This year, artificial intelligence could change that by acting as a 24/7 coach to help you stay on track.
Michael Todasko, visiting scholar at San Diego State University's James Silverado Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence, detailed how AI can be the secret weapon for success.
Save money with AI
Financial goals like paying off debt and building savings are at the top of many resolution lists.
AI makes it easy by non-judgmentally analyzing your spending habits.
“If you use credit cards or other electronic payments and have a record of every transaction, take a photo of it and upload it to AI,” Todasco says. “And I say, 'Here are my credit card transactions for the past six months. I want to spend less because I want to save $200 a month.'
AI provides a practical, personalized way to reduce costs based on actual spending. What's the key? The more details you give, the better advice you'll get.
For example, if you say to an AI, “My husband and I eat out at least three times a week. How much would we save if we cut that down to once a week?” Depending on your habits, that could mean significant savings in the thousands of dollars per year.
Career advancement
AI is also a powerful tool for professional growth. According to Todasco, it's a great way to learn new skills or move into a different industry.
“If you want to move from industry X to industry Y, but you don't know much about industry Y, start asking questions like 'I want to move into this world, what do I really need to know?'
You can also upload your resume for customized job search support and interview preparation.
“If they know your resume, they say, 'I'm interviewing for a financial analyst job at this company, and I'd like you to ask me some questions and then critique my answers at the end,'” Todasco says.
health and fitness goals
For fitness solutions, the key is to tell the AI exactly what you want, your current routine, and your exact goals.
For example, “I work out 6 days a week. 3 days of cardio and 3 days of weight training. I want to gain more muscle by the end of February. What should I do?”
“AI can customize the whole experience and tell you, 'These are the types of meals you should be eating,'” Todasco says.
“This is my budget, or how much time I need to prepare a meal,” Todasko said.
AI can also provide meal ideas and create weekly meal plans with grocery lists and recipes to fit your budget and prep time.
If you're not good at cooking, take a picture of your food and ask, “Is this OK? What should I do next?”
language learning
AI can help with goals like improving or learning a new language. Just speak or type a phrase and it'll be translated instantly, perfect for practicing on the go.
As Todasco said, AI customizes the experience. The more dialogue you have and the more details you provide, the more effective you will be.
This year, leverage AI to make 2026 your best year yet. Start small, be specific with your prompts, be consistent, and watch your resolutions stick.
