The Journal. She Let AI Take Over Her Life For a Year
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May 11, 2026 
Joanna Stern, Emmy-winning tech journalist who tested AI and robots for a year while researching her book I Am Not a Robot. She shares why she let AI run daily life. She defines AI beyond chatbots. She explores AI wearables, work-assist benefits, where robots fail, AI in medical imaging, risks for students, and the perils of machine-pandered relationships.
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AI Is More Than Chatbots
- Joanna Stern expanded 'AI' beyond chatbots to include robots and self-driving cars that see, hear, and make decisions for us.
- She used that broader definition to test real-world impacts across driving, healthcare, wearables, and home robots during her yearlong project.
AI Shines As A Work Assistant
- The clearest, persistent benefit Joanna found was AI as a work assistant that improves productivity and efficiency.
- She reports the assistant role has strengthened as models evolved, becoming something professionals can reliably lean on.
Bracelet That Turns Conversations Into To-Dos
- Joanna wore an AI bracelet that passively recorded conversations, transcribed them, and created to-dos from spoken promises.
- It was "creepy but useful," catching commitments like "call the plumber" and helping with follow-through and marital disputes.
