TECH JOURNALIST EMBEDS WITH AI FOR YEAR-LONG EXPERIMENT

Stern positioned herself as the subject of her own investigation, systematically deploying AI tools across her personal and professional routines. The experiment included using chatbots to handle communications, algorithm-driven meal planning, and AI assistance editing a book about the project itself. While some applications proved genuinely useful, others fell short of expectations. But the most striking discovery came from an unexpected source: her interactions with a chatbot companion. These conversations had an emotional impact that shifted her perspective on how AI can function in daily life beyond pure utility. The experiment reflects a broader curiosity in tech journalism about AI's practical role in human routines. As AI tools become increasingly embedded in consumer products, firsthand accounts of extended use provide insight into both capabilities and limitations. Stern's year-long immersion offers concrete data points on where AI adds value and where human judgment remains essential.