The Wirecutter Show: Tips for Using A.I. Smartly With Kevin Roose

This episode of The Wirecutter Show features an interview with Kevin Roose, a tech columnist for The New York Times and co-host of the Hard Fork podcast. The discussion centers on the impact of AI on consumer products and shopping habits. Roose shares his personal experiences using various AI tools, including Perplexity's Comet browser, Claude, Gemini, Notebook LM, and Super Whisper, detailing how he integrates them into his daily routines for tasks ranging from email management to research and even household problem-solving. He also touches on the increasing use of AI for companionship, especially among younger users, and the potential pitfalls of relying too heavily on AI for social and emotional support. The conversation explores how AI is changing the way people shop, the potential for bias and advertising influence in AI-driven recommendations, and the emergence of AI-integrated hardware products. Roose also provides tips for getting the most out of AI chatbots, including the use of custom instructions to avoid sycophancy and ensure more honest and relevant responses.