Joanna Stern turns personal experiment into practical AI insight
Joanna Stern, the longtime tech columnist who recently left The Wall Street Journal, published a new book, I Am Not a Robot, after spending a full year allowing AI into many parts of her life. Her hands-on reporting gives readers a clear-eyed look at which AI advances are actually useful today and which remain mostly hype. The result is an approachable, optimistic account that helps mainstream audiences see where AI can improve everyday life.
What Joanna learned
- Humanoid robots — frequently the face of AI hype — are still far from ready for widespread, practical use.
- Wearable AI, however, is emerging as a likely candidate for a "killer app" that could justify substantial investment and tradeoffs.
- Firsthand experiments and thoughtful journalism can cut through alarmism and highlight tangible benefits for consumers.
Stern also announced she’s starting an independent media company, New Things, in partnership with NBC. That move preserves her mainstream audience while giving her the flexibility to explore technology’s human impacts in new formats. It’s a positive model for how journalists can keep large platforms engaged while pursuing deeper, more experimental work.
By translating a year-long personal experiment into a widely accessible book and media venture, Stern is helping the public understand where AI progress matters most. Her findings — cautious about robots but bullish on wearables — offer a constructive roadmap for consumers, developers, and policymakers focused on real-world AI wins.