The end of typing

I love the clickity-clack sound of typing, whether it’s nails on a keyboard, fingers on a typewriter, or one of those extra-clacky keyboards you order on Amazon. It is my ASMR.

But, I think typing is going to end in the next ten years. Writers are going to freak out on me, and, as a writer, I understand. I can see it playing out like this: either typing survives for niche groups while most people quietly abandon it, or writers evolve past the need for typing entirely and find a new way. Sounds crazy impossible for those of us who have grown up our whole lives writing on paper and then with keyboards. But it's not that bonkers when you consider that the idea of carrying a phone, camera, and entire library in your pocket also seemed insane. Like, we have driverless cars and robot delivery, y’all. Typing could totally end—it’s possible!

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A lot of people are starting to use audio texts, Facetime, and video calling. AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI are using voice mode. Plus, the concept of functional wearables is growing. What started as talking to your Apple Watch to text a friend will soon shift to smart glasses, AI-in-your-ear, and (yikes) maybe pins or necklaces or whatever weird wearable is coming next.

The more we’re prompting, the more likely we will be to tire of typing because, if you’re like me, your fingers can barely keep up with your brain. If I type at the speed of my thought, my sentences are fraught with errors. I find it much easier to just talk it out. I also think once we’re able to get chips implanted in our brains, we may never need our vocal chords again, but I’m getting ahead of myself!

Anyway, two things crossed my path this week that made me think typing is actually going away:

1. Last week, a few people told me about Wispr, an AI app that allows you to flow more easily from brain to mouth to computer. Just downloaded it and will report back.

2. An email I got this morning that literally had the subject line: THE END OF TYPING. No lie. I started this article last week with this same title and then this email today validated me! It talks about something called Ghostwriter, which is an AI platform that helps you control your computer with your voice. I haven’t looked into it much yet, though, but you bet I’m gonna check it out.

I am so ready to talk to my computer. Maybe you aren't—and that's okay! I just lose so much in the typing. Thoughts that could be tighter, more synthesized, simply better if I could skip the middleman entirely.One step at a time, I guess. I'll miss the clickity-clack, honestly. But I think I'll miss the ideas I lost in the typing even more.

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