Farhad Manjoo, a former New York Times and Wall Street Journal columnist, reveals his AI-enhanced writing workflow, from research to finding the perfect metaphor, and how these tools have transformed his creative process without replacing his unique voice.
What you’ll learn:
• How AI evolved from a simple tool to an essential writing companion
• Using ChatGPT as a research assistant with web search capabilities
• The “super-thesaurus” technique for finding the perfect words and idioms
• How AI helps brainstorm ideas and refine arguments
• The benefits of having an “always-on” writing partner in a remote work world
• Using AI as a first reader to evaluate drafts in progress
• Why AI enhances rather than replaces a writer’s unique voice
• Practical tips for getting unstuck when AI doesn’t deliver
• How AI speeds up the writing process while improving quality
• The future improvements that would make AI even more valuable for writers
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Brought to you by:
• Enterpret—Customer SuperIntelligence Platform for Product and CX teams
• Vanta—Automate compliance and simplify security with Vanta
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Where to find Farhad Manjoo:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhad-manjoo-161229/
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Where to find Claire Vo:
• ChatPRD: https://www.chatprd.ai/
• Website: https://clairevo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairevo/
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:40) Farhad’s journey from skepticism to adoption of AI tools
(04:20) Brainstorming with ChatGPT
(06:54) Assessing the quality of AI-sourced information
(08:34) How ChatGPT helps identify new angles and perspectives
(10:52) Using ChatGPT to find alternatives to clichéd expressions
(16:44) The “super-thesaurus” technique for finding perfect words and idioms
(20:12) Using AI as a first reader for draft evaluation
(22:15) Lightning round
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Tools referenced:
• ChatGPT: https://openai.com/chatgpt/overview/
• Cursor: https://www.cursor.com
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Other references:
• New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/
• The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/
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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co.
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