Summer’s here, and AI integration is probably the last thing on your mind. But while you finally have space to breathe, what if you used AI not to be more productive, but to be more present? One of the best parts of summer for educators is the slower pace. And while we often try to capture the season through photos or journals, it’s easy for meaningful moments to slip by when we’re focused on simply enjoying them.

One of the best ways to hold onto those moments is to simply talk about them. Something that I’ve found to be useful is to use AI to help remember these moments. You can record voice notes recapping the top memories each week and share these with ChatGPT, or NotebookLM to create a summer journal or reflection archive. Notebook LM could even create a summer recap podcast that you could share with friends and family. These small reflections often end up meaning more than any photo album or souvenir.

Exploring something new doesn’t have to mean hours of googling “things to do” and getting lost in blog posts. You can use tools like Roam Around, GuideGeek, which can suggest ideas if you’re planning a full vacation, a weekend getaway, or just looking to make the most of a free afternoon. These tools can help you find hidden gems, like hiking trails you’ve never heard of or local spots you’ve somehow missed.

If you love documenting your travels through photos, you can check out tools like Runway, Animoto, or Canva, where you can turn those photos into little highlight reels. You can add music, captions or even record yourself talking over the images. Even if the reel is messy or unpolished, it’s a lot more powerful than letting your photos sit forgotten in your camera roll.

Summer is also when we promise ourselves we’ll finally tackle those lingering projects: reorganizing the craft room, rewriting that first unit, or decluttering the garage. And then somehow, it’s August. Try this: brain dump everything you want to do, then ask ChatGPT to help create a weekly plan. It’s not about staying busy, it’s about making time to be intentional with the time you have.

AI doesn’t need to run your life this summer, but it can help you enjoy it more. Let it handle decision fatigue, help elevate your memories, and add just enough structure so you don’t wake up in September wondering where the time went. The best summer memories aren’t the ones you planned perfectly, they’re the ones you were present enough to enjoy as they happened.