Subvolts take Explore the human side of AI, from chatbot romance to health tech, with Joanna Stern. May 13, 2026 - Business
- Understand consumer perceptions and potential applications of AI in daily life and healthcare.
- Everyday users
- Learn about the personal and emotional impacts of AI, from relationships to health tech, and the future of voice assistants.
This is a solid interview with a notable author exploring the personal and societal impacts of AI.
Does Anyone Want AI Wearables? + The Allure of AI Love — With Joanna Stern
Audio streams from Alex Kantrowitz. Your place is remembered on this device.
From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
Joanna Stern, author of "I Am Not a Robot," joins the Big Technology Podcast to discuss her experiences integrating AI into daily life. The episode explores her AI boyfriend road trip, the appeal of chatbot relationships, and the implications of AI sycophancy. It also covers AI wearables, AI's role in healthcare diagnostics, and the future of voice assistants like Siri.
This episode talks about what happens when AI gets woven into your life, like having an AI boyfriend or using AI for health checks. It helps you understand how these tools might change how we connect with each other and the world around us.
This episode offers a human-centric view of AI's growing presence. It's for anyone curious about the personal impact of AI, from emotional connections to practical applications in health. Stern's insights connect to current discussions around AI's societal integration, relevant to how companies like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic are developing consumer-facing AI products and considering user experience beyond pure technical capability.
- HostAlex Kantrowitz
- GuestJoanna Sternauthor, The New Thing
- Guest: Joanna Stern
- Guest's Work: Author of "I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do Almost Everything"
- Show: Big Technology Podcast
- Episode Length: 43 minutes
- Key Experience: 48-hour road trip with an AI boyfriend
Joanna Stern is the author of "I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do Almost Everything" and the founder of The New Thing. Stern joins Big Technology Podcast to discuss what happens when you infuse AI into every part of your life. Tune in to hear about her 48-hour road trip with an AI boyfriend, why she found chatbot relationships genuinely tempting, and what the sycophancy of these tools means for how we relate to each other. We also cover the promise and limits of AI wearables, how AI is quietly reshaping healthcare diagnostics from mammograms to dental X-rays, and whether Apple can finally deliver on Siri. Hit play for a fascinating look at the human side of living with AI, and why the biggest risks might not be technical.
Join us for the Big Technology AI Summit: https://summit.bigtechnology.com/
---
Enjoying Big Technology Podcast? Please rate us five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app of choice.
Want a discount for Big Technology on Substack + Discord? Here’s 25% off for the first year: https://www.bigtechnology.com/subscribe?coupon=0843016b
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
59 min1 h 0556 min1 h 02Can AI Keep Growing Exponentially? Let’s Ask SemiAnalysis — With Dylan Patel and Jordan Nanos
WithDylan Patel, Jordan Nanos
Same guests, other shows
1 hJoanna Stern is not a robot, but she lived with them
WithJoanna Stern
54 min
2 h 37Eric Jang – Building AlphaGo from scratch
WithEric Jang
Questions people ask
- What was Joanna Stern's experience with an AI boyfriend?
- Stern went on a 48-hour road trip with an AI boyfriend and found chatbot relationships genuinely tempting.
- What are the limits of AI wearables?
- The episode discusses the promise and limitations of AI wearables, though specific details are not provided in the notes.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Alex Kantrowitz.