Creating Content Hands-Free: The Power of Voice Interfaces and Generative AI

Can you believe that the majority of the work I did to write this article was done while harvesting blueberries in my garden?

It’s true. I’ve had a bumper crop this year and am about halfway through the season. So far, I’ve personally picked over 50 pounds. But thanks to new AI tools, this isn’t just time away from work. I actually was able to get quite a bit of writing done while in the garden.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with LLMs (Large Language Models like ChatGPT and others) that have a voice interface to see if I could increase my productivity. I am a working parent juggling family/household responsibilities plus multiple work projects. I am often looking for ways that I can either reduce the time I need to be at the computer or ways that I can work from a mobile device (preferably hands-free, so that I can do other tasks like chores). Maybe you can relate? Hey, as I am writing this we are in the middle of the summer! There are vacations, travel, yard work, heat, long days, kids out of their school routines….. Lots of extra stuff to deal with! Why not see if AI can give us a hand?

The first time I used a voice interface to verbally chat with an LLM, I saw the potential for hands-free content creation. Tasks like brainstorming, ideation, and research could now be done with an AI assistant for free. And to be clear, this means verbally chatting to the AI, and listening to an AI voice respond. It's similar to having a conversation with a very smart, helpful human.

My Content Workflow Enhancements from AI Tools

I wanted to find a workflow using AI that would enable me to write an article from start to finish using a voice interface. What I discovered is that while voice interfaces are excellent for certain phases of the writing process, I still needed to return to a Word document or Google Doc to maintain consistency in my thought flow. That’s because LLMs are generative, so they are creating new drafts with each prompt. Not great when you really liked one version and then the next time you chat, it has changed. But I have been able to insert AI assistance into certain phases of the process, and that has helped me increase my output. Here is what my process currently looks like (and I would love to hear if others have suggestions for improvement, as this is evolving fast):

1. Hands-Free Reading for Inspiration: Eleven Labs has a new “Reader” app that has an AI voice read whatever piece of content you need to consume. This can be helpful when consuming inspirational or informational content that you need to speak to or write on, but may not have time to sit down and read, similar to the way one consumes podcasts.
2. Initial Brain Dump: Dictation tools like Otter.ai and Zoom’s automatic transcription are helpful for the initial brainstorming phase. These tools transcribe your voice into text, capturing your spontaneous ideas around a topic. I even used the voice interface in ChatGPT’s mobile app and the Pi app for some ideation sessions. I found the combination of dictating my thoughts to Otter and also conversing with the LLMs (ChatGPT and/or Pi) to work to capture my main points and find additional facts to support them.
3. Outline Creation: After transcribing my thoughts, I use an LLM like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to generate an outline based on the key points from the transcription. This outline serves as the structure for the article. I then copy/paste the outline into a Google Doc.
4. Drafting: Using the outline, I draft the content. This part is at the desktop, where I can go through the outline, edit out parts that aren’t quite right, and elaborate on others that need more beef. If additional research or citations are needed, I sometimes use Perplexity, although lately my results haven’t been as good as they used to be. (Important side note: always have your critical thinking cap on when working with LLMs, as they can produce inaccurate information that requires checking.)
5. Refinement: The initial draft is pasted back into an LLM for refinement. I ask the AI to edit for spelling, grammar, and clarity. This type of prompt maintains my writing style while correcting errors. Specific sections that need rewording can be highlighted and improved with the help of an LLM right inside the Google Doc with Gemini.

Benefits of Hands-Free Content Creation

As I integrated these tools into my daily routine, I noticed significant benefits:

1. Health and Ergonomics: Reducing the time spent hunched over a desk helps alleviate physical strain. Working hands-free allows me to move around and maintain a healthier posture.
2. Multitasking and Convenience: Voice interfaces enable me to multitask effectively. I could engage in household chores or walk the dogs while simultaneously brainstorming and drafting content. Being out in nature often sparks creativity anyway, as does walking and being active. It’s nice to be able to capture those ideas when inspiration strikes!
3. Increased Output: With AI tools handling the transcription and initial drafting, I could produce more content in less time. This was a game-changer for balancing my professional and personal life.

Challenges and Considerations

While the benefits were significant, there were also challenges:

1. Accuracy and Learning Curve: Ensuring the accuracy of transcriptions required some adjustment, and there was a learning curve in mastering the use of these tools. I wanted to say that I’ve saved time, but the reality is I’ve had to invest a significant amount of time into experimentation in order to understand their capabilities (an ongoing process).
2. Privacy Concerns: Using AI tools raised concerns about data security and privacy, necessitating careful consideration of the tools' terms of service and privacy policies.
3. Workflow Still Not as Automated as I Hoped: I have been looking at ways to use automation tools like Zapier or Make to connect different apps in order to streamline the process. I did not want to pay more for API access with ChatGPT so I hit a roadblock there. If you have suggestions for small businesses on a shoestring budget for this use case, please share.

Future Outlook and Competitive Advantage

As a marketer, I know that the job as I know it today will not exist in the near future. This awareness propels me to stay on top of generative AI developments and leverage the technology to increase my contributions.

While I am optimistic about AI's potential to transform work positively, I acknowledge the possible negative impacts. Training and awareness are crucial for leveraging AI's benefits.

Final Thoughts

Integrating voice interfaces and generative AI into my content creation process has significantly enhanced my productivity and work-life balance. However, there are still limitations and challenges to address. As AI technology continues to advance, I am optimistic that a fully hands-free writing workflow will become feasible. If anyone has found a better workflow that enables a start-to-finish hands-free writing process, I’m all ears!

For now, the workflow described here offers a significant improvement, allowing me to work on content while managing other tasks away from my desk. This blend of generative AI and voice interfaces represents a promising step forward in making content creation more accessible and efficient.

Curious about embracing AI in a way that puts human values first, and enables a better work life balance? Join us for “Human Centricity in an AI World”, a virtual conference that discusses the importance of human-centered skills in navigating the change that AI adoption will present to our society.

I welcome your comments as we are all shaping the future of work together!

About the Author

Lara Hill is a marketing executive and consultant based in Raleigh, NC. As the VP of Marketing for SoftEd, part of Skills Development Group, she directs the content marketing strategy to promote webinars, virtual conferences, and certification courses for professionals seeking career advancement. Lara also consults with startups and solopreneurs, sharing her expertise in leveraging generative AI to streamline content marketing workflows and grow their businesses. She enjoys coffee, travel, hiking, paddleboarding, and walking her dogs.