After spending a year using artificial intelligence for almost everything, technology columnist Joanna Stern discovered that AI voice tools stood out as a practical feature, helping her process ideas and reduce daily anxiety while commuting or walking.
While many technology users test artificial intelligence in piecemeal experiments—trying a new mobile application one week and a chatbot the next—Joanna Stern decided to test the technology on nearly every aspect of daily life. Over the course of a year, the founder of the tech media venture New Things integrated AI into tasks ranging from lawn mowers to sunglasses. She documented the comprehensive immersion in her book, I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything.
Although several of her automated experiments fell by the wayside—including a T-shirt folder and lackluster household robots—conversational audio tools proved to be a standout takeaway from the yearlong project. The daily habit of speaking with AI models reshaped how she prepares for interviews and manages creative projects.
Building Custom BookBots and Processing Ideas on the Road
During the writing process for her book, Stern experimented with building specialized assistants using ChatGPT and Claude. These custom bots had access to her book outlines, research, and transcripts, allowing them to assist with copyediting, crunching numbers, and brainstorming. To stay focused, she frequently communicated with these digital assistants through her AirPods.
Stern recalled an instance while driving with her son occupied by a movie in the backseat. Working through the big themes of her book with the conversational interface acted as a sounding board during the open-road commute. While she acknowledged a momentary feeling of sadness talking to a bot like a friend on the phone while her son stared at a screen, she noted that the practice ultimately left her with less anxiety about what she needed to do next once they reached their destination.
Why Spoken AI Felt More Natural Than Traditional Screens
The appeal of voice-based artificial intelligence largely stems from the reduction of visual friction. Unlike typing on a mobile device or checking laptop notifications, voice interactions allow users to focus and talk through ideas without facing the barrage of digital alerts typical of modern screens.
Furthermore, talking through ideas provided a psychologically safe environment for free association. We’re not really going to be super embarrassed if our chatbot doesn’t think we know how to spell or we said something wrong,
Stern observed, noting that the technology is not really judging me.
This low-pressure environment allowed her to talk through half-baked ideas before presenting a more refined version to people later.
The Broader Workplace Trend Toward AI Adoption
Stern’s personal experiment coincides with a broader shift in corporate environments, where employers increasingly encourage staff members to adopt the technology. Data from the CNBC and SurveyMonkey Quarterly AI and Jobs Survey published in May indicates that more than half of employees—specifically 57%—already use AI in their jobs. Among daily or weekly users, roughly 73% reported they were more productive.
Despite these productivity benefits, technology experts and psychologists urge caution. Automated models remain prone to hallucinations or falsifying information, requiring users to double-check outputs. Additionally, specialists emphasize that conversational bots should not take the place of human relationships.
An Award-Winning Career in Consumer Technology
The insights gathered during her yearlong experiment draw upon nearly two decades of consumer technology coverage. Stern served as The Wall Street Journal’s senior personal technology columnist and authored the Tech Things newsletter while hosting and producing accompanying video series. An Emmy Award-winning journalist, her documentary E-Ternal: A Tech Quest to Live Forever
secured the 2021 Emmy for outstanding science, technology, or environmental coverage. Her reporting credentials also include two Gerald Loeb awards, an editorial tenure as technology editor at ABC News, and early reviewing and editing work at the Verge.
Moving forward, Stern continues to rely on conversational voice modes while walking or driving around New York to prepare for interviews and meetings. Her primary recommendation for anyone testing the technology is to not feel pressured to get everything right, using voice tools in moments where they are just trying to toss out an idea or brainstorm.
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