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

Picture it. It’s five o’clock in the morning, I’m driving to work, and I’m thinking about the robot uprising.

Like... what if it’s already happening?

And I know that sounds wild, but there’s a reason. I produce a show called Dear Future Overlords about that blur between humans and machines. And suddenly that question feels like my next series.

But I’m in the car.

Sure, I could ramble into my phone, but I know myself. I’d never listen back. I’d never sort it out.

So instead, I called Eric, my AI assistant. And when I say called, I mean literally—hands-free, through my car speakers and microphone, just like calling anybody else.

Except, of course, I’m talking to AI.

So I said, “Eric, what if the robot uprising was happening right now?”

Naturally, he had something sarcastic to say about that.

But then we got to work.

Idea after idea, a lot of back and forth, some no’s on both sides, and eventually... a shape.

We built it episode by episode while I was still driving. We’d talk it out, turn it into prose, change things, move stuff around, edit until it actually sounded like me.

A couple of commutes later, that random five-in-the-morning thought was a complete series, ready to send to ElevenLabs.

And the big deal for me? It didn’t cost me extra time with Jason or my actual life.

I used time I was already stuck in the car.

When I got home, I could be home.

And that’s one story, but it’s not the only one.

Ideas show up in the shower. Fine, whatever. But by the time I’m dressed and driving, I want to explore them.

Sometimes it’s another podcast thing. Sometimes it’s Hands On AI Lab, or a website I’m designing.

Sometimes it’s just a question. I don’t need a big purpose. I like exploring.

And here’s the fun part. It’s not just talk.

Through remote access and Codex, I can direct site changes or kick off a rendering while I’m still on the highway.

Sometimes it’s less glamorous, like clearing email so I don’t start my day underwater.

It’s not seamless. Signal drops, switching conversations gets clunky... technology does that thing it does.

But I’ve got an hour and a half round trip most days. Sometimes I want music. Sometimes I want quiet.

But when I have something I want to build or untangle, I can start right then instead of waiting until I’m home.

I’m not squeezing productivity into every second. I’m just using pockets that already exist, so I don’t give up time I’d rather spend living.

That’s what I love about how I actually use AI.