How this former NYT columnist uses ChatGPT to brainstorm, do research, and find the perfect metaphor

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 Brought to you by: • Enterpret—Customer SuperIntelligence Platform for Product and CX teams: http://enterpret.com/howIAI • Vanta—Automate compliance and simplify security with Vanta: https://www.vanta.com/howiai Where to find Farhad Manjoo: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhad-manjoo-161229/ • X: https://x.com/fmanjoo Where to find Claire Vo: • ChatPRD: https://www.chatprd.ai/ • Website: https://clairevo.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairevo/ • X: https://x.com/clairevo 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 Tools referenced: • ChatGPT: https://openai.com/chatgpt/overview/ • Cursor: https://www.cursor.com Other references: • New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/ • The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/ Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co.

Claire VohostFarhad Manjooguest

Apr 28, 202525mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: April 28, 2025
Duration: 25m
Channel: How I AI
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

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
Brought to you by:
Enterpret—Customer SuperIntelligence Platform for Product and CX teams: http://enterpret.com/howIAI
Vanta—Automate compliance and simplify security with Vanta: https://www.vanta.com/howiai
Where to find Farhad Manjoo:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhad-manjoo-161229/
X: https://x.com/fmanjoo
Where to find Claire Vo:
ChatPRD: https://www.chatprd.ai/
Website: https://clairevo.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairevo/
X: https://x.com/clairevo
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 Tools referenced:
ChatGPT: https://openai.com/chatgpt/overview/
Cursor: https://www.cursor.com
Other references:
New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/
The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/
Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co.

SPEAKERS

Claire Vo
host
Farhad Manjoo
guest

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of How I AI, featuring Claire Vo and Farhad Manjoo, How this former NYT columnist uses ChatGPT to brainstorm, do research, and find the perfect metaphor explores former NYT columnist reveals practical ChatGPT writing workflows and tricks Farhad Manjoo explains how ChatGPT has become a constant companion in his writing process, often replacing hours of Googling and early-stage uncertainty with rapid, interactive exploration.

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