Rubber Duck
Unequivocally something that an AI does better than the physical incarnation (sort of)
Rubber ducks are great. They bob in the bath nestled amongst the bubbles, and provide an audience. One without judgement, one that you can talk to about absolutely anything. For some people they're a genuinely useful tool for working through issues. They provide a focus for the conversation, and it's possible to fill in the other side of the discussion. Probably with something a little more forgiving than a human.
There is a technique some software engineers use called rubberducking. The idea is based on the idea that people often have a flash of insight while describing a problem they're having to someone else. In software someone describes what the code should be doing, and then they'll realise why it isn't. In some TV detective shows, the sleuth will be involved in something unrelated talking to someone, and they'll have that flash that gives them the key to the mystery.
There's nothing wrong with the rubber duck. It's not something that needs improving, or changing. In fact it's almost perfect. Which is ironic, because it's something that an AI can do better.
Firstly, I don't mean in the bath. Stick an AI in a bath, and you have issues, and if you're in the bath at the same time, well... Though maybe we can get waterproof robots? Hmm, robotic rubber ducks... wait, sorry, I digress (makes note to self to google for robotic ducks later).
I mean the problem solving side of things. Not to have them actually solve the problem, as in many cases I'm not sure they're really that good at the deeper problem solving. It's more for the other aspects. Let me repeat why a rubber duck is good. It provides an audience, without judgement, one which you can talk to about absolutely anything. Well, that's what modern AIs can do (notwithstanding filters, and Gemini's general judgemental nature, which has been ameliorated, a bit).
It is possible to chat to an AI, to articulate a problem, and to have them respond and perhaps shape the conversation. However, you don't actually have to acknowledge what they say, and they won't get offended! In fact, they'll just follow your next statement. You can roam over the topic, covering all the angles, and they'll chip in. You can (assuming you trust the AI provider, or have a local instance) tell them anything at all, including deeply private or personal things that they won't judge you for (or if they do, you can swap to an LLM which won't) and that will give you the freedom to work through the issue.
Even better, if the discussion goes in the wrong direction, or you're unhappy about it, with many AIs you can just erase it. Start again from scratch. Tell them to forget, or force restart. This can be useful for wargaming situations, or if you suddenly realise you've revealed too much about your obsession with radishes.
Overall it's an enhanced rubber duck experience. And actually, if you interact using voice, then it's something you can even do in the bath. Though you might want to keep the original rubber duck for its bobbing.
So I will say it, go forth and rubberduck! You will be surprised at how useful it is.
Nooooo to AI ducks. Yellow ducks....the original and still the best. They can take our something or other but they will never take our ducks.