The AI Stroll
Ditch the desk and take AI conversations outdoors
In some ways this post might sound a little weird… I’m going to recommend that you go out on long walks and have solo conversations with an inanimate AI. I know where your mind might go – images of Her or Blade Runner’s Joi might pop in your head. Go out in the world and talk on my phone to… a robot voice? What about real people you might say? Maybe give your mom a call instead?
Well alright. Also do that. But here’s the thing - at its core, just talking to an AI is probably the most central and valuable function that AI serves for most people. Yes, it can code, build websites, and analyze massive datasets, but the real magic of LLMs are how easy they are to converse with. After all, they only gained widespread popularity after they were packaged into easy-to-use chat interfaces and it’s no coincidence that character.ai - which allows users to chat with imaginary and pop culture characters - has remained a top five AI website since its launch in 2022.
So, proceed with an open mind. It was a little odd for me at first too, but I got over it pretty quickly. This certainly is not a replacement for human interaction; it’s an additional avenue to explore. And if you haven’t used AI voice mode much then consider this a reason to give it a shot.
Talk It Out: The Power of AI Voice Mode
We haven’t talked about using AI in voice mode much, but it’s a truly impressive feature. Introduce it to someone that hasn’t used an LLM yet, tell them to ask it anything, let them test its limits, and see what they think. The technology is wild. Not only will it engage in fluid conversation, but using AI on a mobile phone unlocks capabilities beyond what’s possible on a laptop.
Choosing an AI service
First, you’ll need to pick an AI service. Today, ChatGPT is the clear leader in voice integration, but Gemini is a solid alternative. Beyond these, options are limited.
With these apps, AI in voice mode functions similarly to browser-based chat but with added convenience. A mobile phone makes it easy to snap a picture and ask AI about it, start a live video feed, or use voice mode in the background. Currently, mobile apps are the only way to engage AI in these real-time visual interactions (though you can upload pics via browser).
What can you do with voice mode?
Just about anything you can do in a browser chat, but with real-time conversational ease. Some examples include:
Snapping a picture and asking AI to identify a plant, assist with a home project, or recommend an item on a restaurant menu.
Using AI to translate conversations in different languages.
Getting quick, on-the-spot information without needing to type.
Sharing your screen for AI-assisted guidance (a feature we’ll likely explore later).
Realistically, you’ll use voice mode in a different way than browser-based AI. It’s more suited to dynamic, back-and-forth conversations rather than deep research. For example, you wouldn’t want AI to read you an entire dissertation—you’d be stuck listening forever! Use a browser for that.
As is a common theme with this blog, your imagination is the limit.
The AI Walk: Fresh Air, Fresh Ideas
Why sit at your desk when you can take your AI chat outdoors? Walking engages different parts of your brain, stimulating creativity and problem solving and is, of course, good for your health. Use AI voice mode as an excuse to get outside—and maybe take your dog along if you have one, too.
What you’ll need:
A good pair of earbuds with a microphone (AirPods work well, but many options exist).
ChatGPT or Gemini mobile app downloaded onto your phone.
A comfortable pair of shoes and a nice place to walk.
Good to go. What’s nice about using AI is you can always drop and pick up the conversation as is most convenient for you. If someone calls, you need to focus on your surroundings, or you just want a break, your AI pal will understand. With ChatGPT, you can even run voice mode in the background. Also, it probably goes without saying but always be safe and be aware of your surroundings!
Ways to Structure Your AI Talks
First, I encourage you to just play around with voice mode. Open up GPT or Gemini, put in your ear buds, and start talking about whatever comes to mind. See where the conversation goes.
You can also assign AI different personas or roles to structure your chat. I find it’s easier to separate these by chat, but you don’t have to (more on that in the next section). Here are a few ideas:
AI Personas
If you want to talk about something specific, you can tell it what you’re trying to get out of the conversation and ask it to take on a mentoring role during your conversation. For instance:
Business Advisor: Get guidance on management, strategy, or career decisions.
Medical Assistant: Ask general health questions (with the understanding that AI is not a doctor).
Financial Consultant: Discuss taxes, investments, or budgeting strategies.
Parenting Coach: I have it on good authority from a brand-new dad that AI makes a great parent consultant.
You can just ask it to take on one of the above roles, but if you want to set up a chat that you’ll return to over time, you might prompt it with something like the following:
📝 Example Prompt: I want you to act as my AI companion, adapting to different personas based on my requests. You should engage me in thoughtful, dynamic, and natural conversation. Keep the conversation engaging, insightful, and interactive, asking me questions and responding to my thoughts. If I don’t specify a persona, default to a friendly and curious conversationalist who keeps the discussion flowing.
Chatting About Concepts
You can also explore ideas and media with your AI assistant. Instead of listening to a podcast or audiobook (which are also great of course), why not discuss personalize its content with AI?
For instance, a formative book for me back in college was “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. It’s full of foundational business and management recommendations that I try and incorporate as a manager. It’s been a while since I’ve given it a read though and for a refresher, I might start a new chat and prompt GPT with the following:
📝 Example Prompt: Let’s have a natural conversation about the principles in Jim Collins’ Good to Great and how they apply to my work and life. I’ll share my thoughts, challenges, and ideas, and you’ll respond with insights, advice, and practical ways to apply concepts like Level 5 Leadership, the Flywheel Effect, the Hedgehog Concept, and others. Keep the conversation fluid—ask me questions, challenge my thinking, and help me explore how to make these ideas work for me in real situations.
Talk to the Greats
You can also ask AI to take on a persona of a historical or current public figure to explore ideas in a different kind of way. For instance, instead of asking GPT about Good to Great conceptually, I could ask it to speak directly to the author Jim Collins for a different twist on my conversation above. What would I ask Jim if I got to meet him in person?
Feeling a little lost? What advice might the Dalai Lama offer? Looking to incorporate stoic principles further after reading Meditations? How about calling up Marcus Aurelius to explore judgements of self and our place in the universe. Or be like billionaire investor Chris Sacca and go out on walks with your R. Buckminster Fuller GPT when you face tough business decisions.
📝 Example Prompt: I want ChatGPT to take on the persona of [Public Figure]. This means responding in their tone, style, and perspective based on their known beliefs, philosophies, and mannerisms. I want to be able to ask them for advice, opinions, and insights as if I were having a real conversation with them. Stay in character as much as possible while still being informative.
Activate the Active Listener
Sometimes the best way to process something is to talk through it. Sometimes you don’t want to talk with someone as much as you just need someone to listen. Maybe they can offer a little feedback after you’ve gotten it all off your chest. Actively listening is a skill that humans are unreliable at doing well, but luckily for us, AI assistants have unlimited patience are will intently listen to everything that’s on your mind.
By default, LLMs will jump in and participate in a conversation, as that’s how most people are going to interact with them. But if we want them to be more oriented on listening, all we have to do is prompt them this way. Something like the below would work:
📝 Example Prompt: I want you to respond with only 'OK' unless I explicitly ask for something. If I request feedback, a discussion, or a summary, respond accordingly. Otherwise, keep your responses minimal. At the end, summarize our conversation and action items.
Keep in mind that it’s not always going to work perfectly the first time around. Sometimes when I ask for “Active Listener” mode it still gives me feedback, until I reiterate the original instructions, then it typically works as intended. What can I say, AI is weird.
Keeping Track of AI Conversations
I recommend separating topics into different chat threads. This way, you can revisit discussions and build on previous insights, versus starting from scratch. It’s easy to organize and find your chats with GPT and Gemini.
ChatGPT has two options as far as I can tell:
Create a project for your AI walk companions. Your overall prompt will be some general guidance, which specific personas in separate chat threads under the project. It packages everything nicely in one place, with one big caveat. Projects can only use basic Voice Mode today (unable to upload pics and video, detail here). For full features, you’ll need to start a standalone chat.
Just start a standalone chat for each type, which will have all the advanced features available.
Gemini comes with built in “Gems” that help brainstorm or coach. It is probably easiest to try these out first. From there, start your own chat prompts, and click the ellipsis (below) to pin the chat, making it easy to return to later.
AI Walks: A Simple Habit with Big Benefits
With a little practice and the right setup, AI can be a powerful tool for exploring ideas, gaining insights, and having engaging conversations. As always, moderation is key—AI should complement your interactions with friends, family, and colleagues, not replace them, and always keep in mind AI’s limitations.
Happy strolling!
