Talk instead of type: use your voice with AI

The short answer

If typing on a small screen is a nuisance, just talk. Your phone’s assistant can set reminders when you ask out loud, and AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini can hold a spoken conversation with you, like a phone call.

1Open the assistant or chatbot app

2Tap the microphone or voice button

3Say what you need, in plain words

4Check it understood you

Set reminders by voice

iPhone (Siri)

Ask Siri in everyday words. Apple gives examples like:

• “Remind me to feed the dog every day at 7:30 a.m.”
• “Remind me tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. to call Tara.”
• “Remind me when I get home to check the mail.” ^[1]

For “when I get home” reminders to work, Apple says to add your home address to your own contact card first. ^[1]

Android (Gemini)

Google suggests saying things like:

• “Remind me on [date] at [time] to [task].”
• “Remind me at [time] to call [name].”

For this to work, you need to be signed in to Gemini, have Gemini Apps Activity (shown as “Keep Activity”) turned on, and have the Google Tasks app (or Samsung Reminder on Samsung phones). ^[2]

Have a conversation with AI

Want to ask follow-up questions, talk through a plan, or just get an explanation without reading? Use a chatbot’s voice mode:

• ChatGPT Voice: in the ChatGPT app, tap the Voice icon in the message bar and allow the microphone when asked. The free plan includes limited voice use. ^[4]
• Gemini Live: in the Gemini app, tap the Live button at the bottom, or say “Hey Google, let’s talk Live.” Google notes you can even interrupt it to add details or change the subject. ^[3]

Speak normally. If it misunderstands, just say “No, I meant…” and keep going.

Now that AI can talk with you, it’s worth knowing that scammers can use AI voices too. Next, learn how to spot the “family emergency” call.