The Finished Article (3min creation time): Unlocking the Power of Voice: How Speaking to Your Computer Can Transform Productivity
Finding efficient ways to communicate is essential. Typing has been our primary method for digital interaction, but it’s surprisingly slow compared to speaking. We type at an average speed of 40 words per minute, while we can speak at around 150 words per minute—a 4x speed improvement! This time-saving shift has only become practical with advancements in transcription and generative AI. Now, we can leverage these technologies to “think out loud” and turn spoken ideas into coherent, written content.
The Speed Advantage
When you think about typing versus speaking, the difference in speed is enormous. Typing an idea-heavy document could take hours, whereas speaking it out might take only a fraction of that time. By dictating your thoughts, you can quickly “brain dump” ideas without interruption, capturing a natural flow that might be stifled by typing.
This shift allows us to work more efficiently, especially when dealing with larger or more complex projects, such as drafting a blog post, email, or report. Rather than starting with a blank page, voice dictation lets us tap into our expertise and experience, producing text that feels genuine and is deeply personal.
Combining Voice and AI: A Powerful Partnership
Voice alone is impactful, but pairing it with generative AI brings the process to a new level. You can record your ideas in a raw, natural way, similar to speaking with an editor or friend, and then let AI organize, refine, and polish those thoughts. This workflow captures the best of both worlds: the uniqueness of your experiences and the clarity that comes from AI assistance.
AI acts as a co-pilot, structuring your insights and providing editorial support to make your communication clearer and more concise. This approach avoids the generic feel of AI-generated content by centering on your voice and perspective.
A More Natural Way to Work
Typing has only been a common skill for around 60 years, but speaking is something we’ve done as a species for thousands. Using voice-to-text feels intuitive and less restrictive. Imagine dictating your thoughts while on a walk, doing laundry, or commuting. Instead of being tethered to a keyboard, you can let ideas flow naturally while remaining active and mobile.
This freedom offers a new way to interact with technology, reducing the need for a seated, stationary position. Our voices allow us to communicate, share stories, and work collaboratively in a way that feels natural. The potential for productivity and creativity is vast.
Practical Tips for Getting Started with Voice Dictation
If you’re new to voice-to-text, here’s how to start:
- Use Built-In Microphone Features: Most devices have a built-in microphone function for text input, like the small mic icon on your phone keyboard. Some devices require you to hold it down while speaking, while others allow a single press to start and stop.
- Get Comfortable with AI Tools: After dictating, tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or other large language models can help you refine your message. AI can clean up filler words or add structure, leaving you with clear and effective communication.
- Overcome Initial Awkwardness: At first, it might feel strange speaking out loud to your device. But remember how quickly we adapted to talking on AirPods—now, it’s completely normal. People around you will soon view speaking to devices in public as standard behavior.
- Experiment in Everyday Scenarios: Try dictating an email, a social media post, or a quick note to yourself. You might be surprised how natural it feels once you get started.
Voice Dictation as a Tool for Personal and Professional Growth
Besides boosting efficiency, voice dictation helps improve your communication skills. As you practice, you’ll start to eliminate filler words and speak more confidently and clearly. This carries over into other areas, like in-person conversations and presentations, making you a better communicator overall.
The more I use voice in my work, the more frustrated I feel when I can’t rely on it, signaling that this shift to voice-first technology is not just a trend but an essential change in how we work. As a product manager and developer, seeing this potential inspires me to push for a future where voice-first interaction is standard.
Voice dictation paired with AI has the potential to change how we interact with technology fundamentally. We’re moving towards a more natural, efficient, and human way of communicating with our devices. By freeing ourselves from the constraints of typing, we can work faster, share ideas more freely, and develop a better relationship with our technology.
