Turn annoying HEIC files into JPEGs & PNGs automatically
Learn how I used AI to build a simple tool that automatically converts annoying HEIC files to JPEGs or PNGs on your computer.
One of the most underrated uses for AI tools like Claude or ChatGPT is building tiny, custom software to fix specific annoyances on your own computer. You don't need to be a developer to do this; you just need to describe the problem.
I was frustrated by a specific quirk on my laptop. Whenever I dragged a photo out of the Photos app onto my desktop, it saved as an HEIC file. I didn't know what that format was, and I didn't want to deal with it.
So, I used AI to build a simple utility called HEIC Converter. It does exactly one thing: it watches a folder you choose. When a new HEIC file appears there, it automatically converts it to a PNG or JPEG. If you want, it can even move the original file to the trash to keep your folders clean.
It’s a small tool, but it solves a specific friction point perfectly. If you’re dealing with the same issue, feel free to try it out. I’ve linked it below.
If you want to try a smaller, no-coding first step before building a tool, start with Learning AI for Everyday Life. It includes a safe exercise and a checklist for verifying the result.