Revolutionize Your Writing with AI-Powered Dictation Cleanup

There are two main approaches to leveraging AI for dictation:

1. Real-Time Dictation Software: Tools like Nuance Dragon Dictation allow you to dictate text in real-time, with the software handling spelling, grammar, and punctuation. While this method can have some accuracy issues, you can create a custom prompt to clean up the text using a language model like ChatGPT.

2. Asynchronous Dictation with Whisper: The OpenAI Whisper model allows you to record your dictation and then transcribe the audio file. This approach requires an extra step, but can be beneficial if you don't want to dictate in real-time or if you have a higher-quality recording. You can then use a language model to format the transcription correctly.

Both methods can significantly improve your writing efficiency by allowing you to get words on the page faster. The key is finding the workflow that best fits your writing process and preferences. With a little setup, you can leverage the power of AI to streamline your dictation and spend more time on the creative aspects of your work.

To use a real-time dictation model like Dragon Dictation, the process is as follows:

1. Use a specialized dictation software like Dragon Dictation or the built-in dictation capabilities in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
2. Wear a headset with a noise-cancelling microphone to ensure accurate transcription.
3. Hit the dictation button and start speaking your text. The software will transcribe your speech in real-time.
4. Review the transcribed text and fix any errors in spelling, homophones, missing words, or other inconsistencies caused by the dictation process.
5. To speed up the editing process, you can create a custom GPT prompt that automatically cleans up the dictated text by fixing common issues.
6. Apply the prompt to the transcribed text, and the GPT model will provide a cleaned-up version, saving you time and effort.

This workflow allows you to capture your ideas quickly through dictation, while the AI-powered editing helps to ensure a polished final draft.

The first step in this method is to record your dictated text as an audio file. You can use various methods to record, such as your phone, a voice recorder, or the default Windows sound recorder.

Once you have the audio file, you can use OpenAI's Whisper model to transcribe it. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to do this directly within OpenAI's ecosystem, as features like uploading audio files to ChatGPT are not yet available.

However, you can use the "Complete" legacy feature in the OpenAI Playground to transcribe your audio. Here's how:

1. In the OpenAI Playground, select the "Complete" legacy feature.
2. In the top right corner, click on the "Speech to Text" option.
3. Drag and drop your audio file into the designated area.
4. The Whisper model will then transcribe your audio file.

The transcription may have some issues, such as it literally transcribing the punctuation you verbally specified or not always understanding where to start a new paragraph. To address these issues, you can run the transcription through another prompt in ChatGPT.

The prompt could look like this:

"The following is dictated text. Please correct it so that punctuation that was verbally specified is converted to actual punctuation (e.g., period to period, comma to comma), and when it says 'new line,' use that as an indicator to create a new paragraph."

Then, simply paste the transcription into ChatGPT, and it will clean up the text for you.

While this method may seem similar in effort to the first workflow with Dragon Dictation, it can be useful in certain scenarios. For example, if you don't want to dictate text in real-time or if you're recording your dictation while on a walk, the Whisper model can be a viable option.

Ultimately, both workflows can be effective in incorporating AI into your dictation process and saving you time in the editing phase.

Using a combination of dictation software and AI-powered tools can significantly streamline your writing process, especially if you're a prolific author with limited time. The two methods discussed provide different approaches to leveraging AI for dictation:

1. Real-Time Dictation with Specialized Software: Tools like Dragon Dictation allow you to dictate your text in real-time, with the software handling the transcription. While this method may require some cleanup of spelling and grammar errors, you can create a custom prompt in an AI assistant like ChatGPT to automate the editing process.

2. Asynchronous Dictation with AI Transcription: Services like OpenAI's Whisper model enable you to record your dictation and then have the audio file transcribed. This approach may be beneficial if you prefer to dictate on the go or don't have access to real-time dictation software. The transcription can then be refined using an AI assistant.

Both workflows offer advantages and can be tailored to your specific writing needs. By incorporating AI into your dictation process, you can save time, reduce editing efforts, and focus more on the creative aspects of your work. Experiment with these methods to find the approach that best fits your writing style and productivity goals.