#21 - Say It Out Loud: Why Voice + AI Will Change Everything

The keyboard slowed us down. Voice and AI are speeding us up—together.

Apr 21, 2025

We’ve all been there.

A idea hits you in the shower. You rush to your laptop to get it down. You open a doc, start typing… and somehow, what was electric in your head lands flat on the page. The moment’s gone. The magic, lost somewhere between your brain and your keyboard. This used to happen to me once a day!

And it’s not our fault. (hmm.. then what is it?)

It’s the interface.

💡 Think about it this way:
The mouse and graphical interface (GUI) replaced command lines—not because they were more powerful, but because they were more human.
Voice + LLMs are the next leap.
We’re leaving behind the keyboard as the gatekeeper to expression. We’re heading toward a world where you speak—and AI helps shape.

Blank Page Syndrome, Meet Your Match

Let’s talk about a feeling everyone knows too well: blank page syndrome. That page starring at you like it’s judging your intelligence. It’s not that you don’t have ideas—it’s that typing forces you to start perfect when your brain just wants to start messy.

That’s where voice becomes a secret weapon. When you speak, there’s no cursor. No pressure to structure, style, or spell correctly. You just say what you mean, and let AI help make it coherent.

Voice kills the intimidation of the blank page. It gives you permission to begin before you’ve figured it all out—and that’s where real creativity lives.

The Brain-to-Keyboard Bottleneck

Our brains move fast—1,000 to 3,000 words per minute. Even elite typists top out around 120. I still think back to my 5th grade typing teacher Virginia Roden, who I struggled with as she pushed me to get to 30-40 words per minute. Most of us average 40–60 today. That’s like trying to funnel a firehose through a drinking straw.

And it’s not just a speed issue—it’s a thinking issue. Typing linearizes our brains. It forces us to format ideas before we’ve even finished forming them.

Voice: The First Real Bridge

When you talk, you don’t stop to worry about spelling or formatting. You just… speak.
And most of us speak around 150–160 words per minute without trying. (some of us much more)

Voice feels human—because it is. It brings nuance. Tone. Emotion. Spontaneity. Energy.

💬 “In a voice-first world, your ideas don’t have to wait in line behind your typing skills.”

But raw voice is raw. That’s where AI steps in.

LLMs: Your New Thought Partner

LLMs aren’t spellcheck—they’re co-creators. Here’s what they do:

Organize stream-of-consciousness thoughts into coherent structure
Expand shorthand notes into strategy
Refine voice while preserving yours
Reformat content for different audiences
Turn rough audio into ready-to-send insight

💬 “Voice is how humans think. LLMs are how those thoughts scale.”

It’s not just faster—it’s more real. And it’s how human-machine teaming starts to feel like teaming.

This Isn’t a Productivity Hack. It’s a Paradigm Shift.

This shift touches every corner of our lives:

Creative work → speak a story, let AI write the first draft
Leadership → voice a vision, turn it into a roadmap
Learning → explain aloud, get back flashcards
Inclusion → level the field for those who struggle with typing, writing, or language barriers

💬 “We’re not trying to replace writing—we’re reclaiming the speed of thought.”

Not Just for Work—Voice Is a Personal Power Tool, Too

This isn’t just about work—it’s about how we think, learn, and live.

🧠 Voice Journaling = Mental Clarity

Talk it out on a walk. Let AI catch what you missed—and show you what matters. Instant therapy, no keyboard required.

🚗 Learning While You Drive

Ask your AI questions while commuting. Get quizzed. Practice aloud. Build confidence. No screen required. I did this the other day in tying to figure out what mitochondria was based on a podcast I was listening to. This was simply AMAZING!

Why Every Piece of Software That MOST OF US KNOW Will Have to Change

If voice becomes the new interface and LLMs become the new collaborator, then everything built for point, click, and type is suddenly out of date. That includes your CRM. Your HCM. Your LMS. Your intranet. Your ERP.

Most enterprise software wasn’t designed for human-machine teaming—it was designed for data entry and task execution. But voice + AI flips that model: the software doesn’t wait for input—it listens, learns, and contributes.

This means:

Interfaces will shift from buttons to conversations
Navigation will give way to natural prompts
Static workflows will become dynamic interactions

The biggest rewrite in business software is already underway. And it’s not just a UX upgrade—it’s a mindset shift from systems of record to systems that respond.

The ROI of Voice: For People and for Business

Let’s get practical. Why shift from typing to talking? Because the return on investment isn’t just conceptual—it’s tangible.

📈 For Humans: Personal ROI

Time Saved: Speaking your thoughts can be 2–3x faster than typing them. That means more time spent thinking and less time spent formatting.
Energy Preserved: Less thinking gets lost. No toggling between thought and keystroke. Just speak, process, refine.
Ideas Captured: How many insights slip away because we couldn’t get them down in time? Voice lets you catch ideas at the speed they show up.
Clarity & Self-awareness: Talking out loud surfaces mental clutter you didn’t even know was there. Then AI helps you organize and clear it.

💼 For Businesses: Organizational ROI

Faster Decision-Making: Less time crafting the perfect email, more time capturing raw thought and refining it instantly with AI.
Higher Quality Output: Teams speak naturally. LLMs shape it into clear, structured communication—without the meetings as well as checks for compliance and ethics.
Lower Barriers to Entry: Voice-first systems open up participation across skill levels, literacy levels, and even language barriers.
Increased Engagement: More people contribute when the friction to do so is removed. Especially in remote and hybrid teams.

This isn’t about replacing work. It’s about removing the drag that’s been slowing down our best work for decades.

What I Use (and You Can, Too)

🧠 Whispr Flow – My voice-first brain partner.
🎤 Otter.ai, Descript, Speechify, Rev, and yes—Voice Notes.

These tools don’t just support voice—they design around it.

Want to Start? Here’s How:

Block “voice thinking” time - try out Whispr Flow
Let LLMs structure your thoughts
Talk through confusion—don’t stop
Only type when you get stuck, if you do

The Voice-First Workplace (Yes, It’s Coming)

The office changes. The rhythms change. The skills change.

And so does what it means to communicate, lead, and learn.

Most of today's workplaces were built for quiet typing, visual screens, and button-based systems. In a voice-first environment, everything from physical layout to digital etiquette needs a rethink. You think “return to office” was a big deal?

Offices will need more private, soundproofed spaces for focused thinking aloud.
Meeting culture will shift—with pre-voiced input replacing long, synchronous sessions.
Workflows will be reimagined to begin with raw voice input, shaped in real time by AI.
Policies and norms will evolve to support verbal collaboration, voice data management, and AI-guided productivity.

We're not just swapping keyboards for microphones—we’re redesigning how and where thinking happens at work.

When Will This Happen? (Spoiler: It Already Is.)

By March 2024, hundreds of millions were already using GenAI monthly.
Wendy’s and Taco Bell are rolling out voice AI in stores.
Businesses across industries are shifting from “testing AI” to building around it.

💬 “If you’re still designing work for keyboards, you’re building the future with the wrong blueprint.”

Jason Averbook is a globally acclaimed expert in Digital Strategy, Generative AI, and the rapidly evolving future of work. Recognized among the Top 25 Human Capital and Work Thought Leaders worldwide, Jason has spent over three decades at the forefront of technology and business transformation. His core mission is inspiring organizations to transition from merely focusing on new technologies to authentically embracing a digital and human first mindset.

Jason is the author of two influential books and the founder of Leapgen and Knowledge Infusion, groundbreaking consultancies dedicated to shaping digital workplaces. Known for his engaging speaking style, practical insights, and visionary advice, Jason regularly energizes global audiences as a keynote speaker, strategic advisor, and educator.Whether you're in a boardroom or behind the wheel, the voice + AI revolution isn't coming. It's here, it’s not and it’s OUR TIME.