What is Ethereum used for in real life?

Sure, here's a possible description that simulates the tone of a questioner: "Hey there, I've been hearing a lot about Ethereum lately and I'm curious about its real-world applications. I understand it's a blockchain platform that allows developers to build decentralized applications, but I'm wondering if you could give me some concrete examples of how Ethereum is being used in real life? Is it just for crypto trading and investing, or are there other industries and use cases where Ethereum is making a real impact?