When I tell people that I can't find a real use for ai in my life, they tend to respond as if my statement is a plea for help or something, with suggestions for things i should try to do with it. I think they often fail to see that things like my survival, fulfillment, ability to earn a living, etc, aren't directly dependent on the machine.

Should we understand the possibilities and implications? Sure, but there's no sense in trying to force usefulness from a useless thing.