I’ve been journalling for nearly a decade, and it’s develop into one of the crucial vital elements of my every day routine.
Nearly each evening, I spend a couple of minutes getting my ideas down on paper, and it’s undoubtedly helped to enhance my psychological readability and way of thinking through the years.
What began in 2016 as a normal stream of consciousness developed into an inventory of three issues that went properly and one factor I’d like to enhance every day. Extra lately, I merely checklist a couple of issues that I’m grateful for earlier than I fall asleep, one thing that’s notably helpful on harder days.
This can be a deeply private exercise that I choose sharing solely with a pen and a pocket book, however I recognise the advantages of utilizing an app for journalling. It makes your notes simply searchable and accessible throughout all of your gadgets, whereas avoiding the muddle of a build-up of crammed notebooks.
On the floor, Google dipping its toe into the world of journalling apps makes lots of sense. Apple launched its Journal app again in 2023, and the flexibility to sync through your Google account might be an interesting choice for many individuals.
Google hasn’t revealed a lot about its new Pixel Journal app at this stage, though we do know that it’ll debut on the brand new Pixel 10 collection. Nonetheless, the one characteristic it’s talked about up to now makes for disturbing studying.
In accordance with Google, Pixel Journal will will let you, and I quote, “document ideas through AI-generated prompts”. Name me the John McEnroe of tech journalism, however you can’t be severe, Google!
I don’t have to check it to inform you that synthetic intelligence in a journalling app is a horrible thought. Journalling is a non-public exercise, and one thing that ought to solely contain you and your ideas.
Name me the John McEnroe of tech journalism, however you can’t be severe, Google!
Expertise could make the method extra streamlined, however it shouldn’t be used to information you in any specific path. When you want prompts, they need to be generic – there’s no want for AI to become involved.
To be clear, I’m not asking for the Pixel 10 collection to be an AI-free zone. Certainly, Google has among the most compelling synthetic intelligence options of any telephone. However it ought to solely be utilized in areas the place it may possibly actually make an actual distinction, comparable to photograph modifying, real-time translation and assist for these with visible impairments.
Foundry
Within the ChatGPT period, persons are starting to show to AI for assist with their psychological well being. I perceive the enchantment, particularly when remedy could also be prohibitively costly, however I’d urge folks to contemplate the impression of sharing their deepest ideas and emotions with AI. Do you actually know the place that knowledge finally ends up, and might you assure it gained’t be offered to entrepreneurs?
Within the Pixel Journal app, it sounds as if Google might be analysing your journal entries with the intention to present tailor-made, personalised prompts. If that’s the case, I’ll be steering properly away from it.
See extra information and opinions on the Pixel 10 telephones in our devoted 2025 Google Occasion hub.