AI helped me buy boots and build things from the car

An armload of thrift-store finds made a shoe-size chart more trouble than I wanted. On my commute, a much longer conversation with AI helped me develop a series—and I can also direct website work and audio rendering from the car.

AI answered from my pocket while I shopped for boots

I was having a good day at Goodwill: blazers, shirts, and two pairs of boots I really liked. With my arms full, I asked Eric aloud to convert my men’s shoe size instead of stopping to work through a chart. The answer came through my phone in my back pocket. I bought the boots, have worn them a couple of times, and have gotten all kinds of comments on them.

What I got out of it: Boots I liked, with a quick answer that let me keep shopping.

Why AI was useful: I could ask the sizing question and hear the answer without juggling my shopping to read a chart.

I talk to AI in the car—and get things built

A five-in-the-morning thought about the robot uprising turned into a Dear Future Overlords series over a couple of commutes. I talked it through with Eric, developed the episodes, and edited the prose until it sounded like me. I also use remote access and Codex to direct website work and ElevenLabs rendering from the car. Signal drops and clunky conversation switching remain part of the experience.

What I got out of it: A way to develop and build things during time I already spend driving, leaving more time at home for Jason and my life.

Why AI was useful: It could respond as I worked through ideas, help shape and edit them, and carry out the work I directed through Codex.