Rolfe Dlugy-Hegwer

Tag: AI

  • Audible’s new “Ask a Question” feature

    What is “Ask a Question”?

    Audible is quietly beta-testing “Ask a Question,” or as I can’t resist calling it, Q&Ai. This AI-driven helper answers your questions about plot points, character motivations, historical context, literary devices, and more. Tap the new Ask a Question button while the audiobook is playing and type or ask your question out loud. Answers appear instantly, so you never need to pause and search the web or rewind a chapter.

    First look at the landing screen

    Landing screen for Audible's 'Ask a Question' feature, titled 'Get instant insights', showcasing adaptation favorites like 'The Great Gatsby' and 'Romeo and Juliet' in a mobile app interface.

    The screen is titled Get instant insights and invites listeners to:

    Explore popular classics with Ask a Question [BETA] … Tap the button in your player while listening to these timeless works.

    Two curated rows are highlighted:

    Adaptation favourites
    The Great Gatsby (performed by Jake Gyllenhaal) and Romeo and Juliet: The Folger dramatised audio edition are each available for one credit.

    Celebrity performances
    Dracula (performed by Alan Cumming and Tim Curry), Little Women (performed by Laura Dern), and Les Misérables (translated by Julie Rose) are offered as a mix of titles included with membership and options that cost one credit.

    Additional classics populate the carousel—Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, The Odyssey, The Iliad, Meditations, A Book of Five Rings, The Count of Monte Cristo, Northanger Abbey, and selections from Dickens and Beatrix Potter. Modern best sellers are absent; for now the beta is limited to public-domain or long-established works, likely to minimize spoiler risks and copyright complexity.

    How it works in practice

    Screenshot of the Audible audiobook player displaying 'Dracula' performed by Alan Cumming and Tim Curry. The screen features a 'Get instant answers as you listen' message and an 'Ask a Question' button, along with playback controls.
    1. Start any supported audiobook from the curated list.
    2. Tap “Ask a Question” in the player.
    3. Type or dictate your query. Examples:
      • Why does Gatsby call Nick “old sport”?
      • What historical events framed Victor Hugo’s writing of Les Misérables?
    4. Read the reply without leaving the app. The answer stays onscreen while playback continues.

    I tested it with Dracula by asking, “How did Dracula know Jonathan Harker would arrive at the hostel, and why does that moment matter?”

    The AI answered in about 1 second: “Dracula arranged Jonathan’s arrival by sending a letter to the Golden Krone Hotel in Bistritz. This moment is significant because it reveals Dracula’s careful planning and manipulation. He deliberately orchestrated Jonathan’s journey, ensuring he would arrive on St. George’s Eve when evil powers are strongest. The innkeeper’s fear and the elderly woman’s warning about this date foreshadow the danger awaiting Jonathan. This scene establishes Dracula’s cunning nature and supernatural influence, while also introducing the novel’s Gothic atmosphere of dread and helplessness as Jonathan unwittingly proceeds toward his captor’s trap.” A thumbs-up or thumbs-down prompt followed, along with a caution that answers may be inaccurate or include spoilers.

    Early impressions

    Strengths

    • Clarity: answers are short, sourced, and spoiler-aware.
    • Convenience: no switching to a browser means fewer distractions.
    • Performance: latency is negligible; faster than Dracula turning into mist.

    Limitations

    • Catalog scope: only classics so far.
    • Depth: nuanced literary analysis sometimes feels surface-level.
    • Citations: the beta lists chapter numbers, not full references.

    Overall, it already beats pausing to search Stack Exchange or Wikipedia. If Audible widens the catalog and deepens the commentary, it could become a staple for students and casual readers alike.

    What I hope to see next

    • Contemporary titles with author-approved Q&A scopes
    • Richer sourcing (edition, translator, narrator) for academic citation
    • Context-aware follow-ups so the AI remembers the thread of questions
    • Accessibility support for visually impaired users who rely on voice input

    Try it yourself

    The beta is rolling out gradually in the latest Audible app (iOS and Android, July 2025 build). Look for the banner on the home screen, download one of the featured classics, and pose a question mid-chapter. Share your results—I will gather feedback and post a follow-up review next week.

    AI assistance acknowledgement
    This post was drafted by the author, refined with generative-AI suggestions, and finalised after human review and editing.

  • Meet-Cute with AI: How I Fell for Vibecoding

    Meet-Cute with AI: How I Fell for Vibecoding

    Over the years, I’ve tried writing software myself. Ambitious ideas, grand plans, and inevitably, abandoned projects when the going got too harsh. Then came AI coding assistants, and with them, a new path: vibecoding.

    Vibecoding is what I call the intuitive, chat-driven way of working with tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor AI, and ChatGPT. Instead of starting with a blank file, I start with a feeling, a vibe, and a conversation. With natural language as the new programming language, it is my new superpower!

    My journey went from asking ChatGPT for quick Python snippets to fumbling together semi-functional ensembles of scripts. Then came GitHub Copilot, which felt like autocomplete with ambition. And finally, Cursor.com, which turned out to be more like a pair-programming partner with opinions.

    My first real interaction with Cursor was a turning point. I asked it for bold architectural changes and told it to push back if I was making bad decisions. And boy, did it deliver. Cursor replied with a thoughtful, structured rebuttal:

    🚨 I would ADVISE AGAINST this change

    The plugin enablement system isn’t broken. In fact, we just fixed an integration bug and it’s now working well. You’re proposing to remove something that’s serving important purposes, like safely handling experimental features and allowing configuration for different environments.

    Cursor wasn’t just going along for the ride-it was asking the hard questions. And when I clarified my goals, it flipped:

    🎉 This is EXCELLENT design thinking!

    Your plan to default-enable plugins, provide user-friendly configuration, and add a sequencer for orchestrating plugin execution is professional-grade. You’re solving real problems with a scalable, maintainable solution.

    What followed was a thrilling back-and-forth. Cursor outlined a four-phase implementation plan, encouraged starting with a detailed design document, and even coached me on software development workflows:

    📋 Phase 0: Project Design Document

    Include user stories, plugin metadata schema, JSON configuration format, CLI interface, and migration strategy.

    This will set us up for success and help us avoid rework.

    It was like getting a crash course in systems architecture, project planning, and developer ergonomics-all in one.

    So here I am: a technical writer turned vibecoder. I’m still learning. Still fumbling. But now, I’m doing it with a sparring partner who helps me write better software and think more clearly.

    If you’re a fellow tech writer curious about coding, AI tools like Cursor can open doors, not by dumbing things down, but by treating you like a collaborator with potential. Ask good questions. Stay humble. And vibe on.

    This post was made possible with the help of generative AI tools, including ChatGPT and Cursor. They’re not just assistants—they’re collaborators in this process of learning, building, and reflecting.

    Next up: writing that sequencer design doc. Wish me luck.