In her latest review for The Wall Street Journal, tech journalist Joanna Stern showcases her innovative approach to evaluating Apple products. For the launch of the iPhone 16, she introduced an original concept: “Joannabot”, a generative AI companion designed to answer all your queries regarding the iPhone 16—most importantly, whether it’s worthwhile to upgrade.
The team at WSJ trained this AI bot using a wealth of resources, including ten years’ worth of Joanna’s past iPhone reviews, detailed specifications from Apple, and her observations after extensive testing of the iPhone 16. The outcome is an interactive chatbot, powered by Google’s Gemini Flash, capable of answering your questions about the iPhone 16, comparing features, and suggesting potential upgrades.
“Why go with a bot? The iPhone experience can feel a bit repetitive—like living in a ‘Groundhog Day’ scenario—so a fresh perspective might be needed. Plus, users may have inquiries that my review didn’t cover, making Joannabot a beneficial resource. With Apple embracing AI, why not incorporate it into this experience?”
“I’m thrilled for you to interact with Joannabot! Just a heads up—this is an experimental tool. While we’ve instructed it to focus solely on iPhones, generative AI can occasionally produce inaccuracies or fabricate responses. If you prefer my insights, feel free to scroll down to view my comprehensive iPhone 16 testing notes.”
Explore Joannabot yourself by visiting The Wall Street Journal. You can also dive into her detailed review notes or check them out on Apple News+.