How you can use AI to help you with your New Year's resolutions

As we wrap up 2025 and gear up for 2026, many of us are setting ambitious New Year’s resolutions — getting healthier, saving money, advancing our careers, or learning something new are some examples. But let’s be real, most resolutions fade by February.

Studies show that less than 10% of people actually achieve their New Year’s goals long-term. This year, artificial intelligence could change that, acting as a 24/7 coach to help you stay on track.

Michael Todasco, a Visiting Fellow at San Diego State University’s James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence, shared details about how AI can be your secret weapon for success.

Saving money with AI

Financial goals like paying off debt or building savings top many resolution lists.

AI makes it easier by analyzing your spending habits without judgment. 

“If you’re using a credit card or other electronic payments where you have a record of all of your transactions, take a picture of that, upload it to AI,” said Todasco. “And say, ‘Hey, these are my last six months of transactions on my credit card. I want to cut back my spending because I want to save $200 a month.’”

AI will then provide practical, personalized ways to cut costs based on your actual expenses. The key? The more details you give, the better the advice.

For example, if you tell AI, “My husband and I eat out at least three times a week. How much can we save by cutting it to once a week?” It might calculate significant yearly savings, potentially in the thousands, depending on your habits.

Advancing your career

AI is also a powerful tool for professional growth. According to Todasco, it’s excellent for learning new skills or transitioning into different industries.

“If you want to move from industry X to industry Y and you don’t know a lot about industry Y, start asking it questions like, ‘I want to make a shift into this world, what are the things that I really need to know?’”

You can even upload your resume for tailored job search help or interview prep.

“If it knows your resume, say, ‘Hey, I’m going to interview for a financial analyst job at this company, can you ask me the questions, and at the end I want you to critique my responses,’” said Todasco.

Health and fitness goals

For fitness resolutions, the key is to tell AI exactly what you want, your current routine, and your exact goals.

For example, “I work out six days a week – three days cardio, three days weights, and I want to build more muscle by the end of February. What can I do?”

“AI can customize the whole experience for you and say, ‘Hey these are the types of meals you should be eating,’” said Todasco.

“You can say, this is my budget, the amount of time I have to prepare meals,” Todasco said.

AI will give you meal ideas, and even create weekly meal plans complete with grocery lists and recipes, all tailored to your budget and prep time.

If cooking isn’t your strength, snap a photo of your dish and ask, “Does this look right? What should I do next?”

Language learning

AI can help with goals like improving or learning a new language. Just speak or type phrases, and it translates instantly, perfect for practice on the go.

As Todasco said, AI customizes the experience. The more you interact and provide details, the more effective it becomes.

This year, let AI help make 2026 your best yet. Start small, be specific in your prompts, be consistent and watch your resolutions stick.