I reviewed a 15-page AI-generated implementation plan in 20 minutes.

Not by typing faster. By talking while I read.

The Problem with Typed Reviews

When you type feedback, you lose thoughts. The gap between reading, thinking, and typing creates friction:

  • Read a section
  • Think “hmm, what about edge cases?”
  • Start typing…
  • Forget the nuance
  • Write something generic

Your typed review is a compressed, lossy version of what you actually thought.

The Workflow

  1. Open the document (AI plan, spec, whatever needs review)
  2. Start dictation (MacWhisper, WhisperUI, etc.)
  3. Read and speak your thoughts simultaneously
  4. When done: Full review transcript ready

No context switching. Speaking speed ≈ thinking speed. Nothing lost.

The Hidden Value: Your Learning Trace

Here’s what surprised me. The magic isn’t just speed—it’s the meta-information you capture.

Example from reviewing an AI-generated architecture plan:

"Reading the intro... okay, microservices approach..."
[reads more]
"Wait, how do they handle auth between services? That seems missing..."
[reads three more sections]
"Oh, they covered it in section 5. So it IS there, just buried.
The question came up in section 2 but the answer is in section 5.
Should probably move that up or at least reference it earlier."

Insight
Your dictated review captures where confusion arose and when it resolved. This is structural feedback the author can’t see any other way.

What the transcript reveals:

  • Your initial questions (what wasn’t clear)
  • Where confusion arose (section 2)
  • When confusion resolved (section 5)
  • Structural issues (answer too far from question)
  • Your learning progression

This is information you’d never capture typing. But dictation gets everything.

When you feed this transcript to AI for cleanup, it has context about your thought process—not just your conclusions.

Tool Recommendations

Mac: MacWhisper ($80 lifetime) — Local processing, system-wide dictation, best-in-class UX. One-time payment, no subscription.

Windows: WhisperUI (free) — Microsoft Store, 100% offline, easy setup. For power users: WhisperWriter with CUDA support.

Cloud: Wispr Flow ($12/mo) — Cross-platform, polished UX, but requires internet.

Privacy note: Local tools (MacWhisper, WhisperUI) process everything on your device. Nothing leaves your machine.

Making It Work

A few things I learned:

  • Don’t edit while speaking. Just talk. Clean up after.
  • Narrate what you’re reading. “Okay, section 3, deployment…” helps AI understand context.
  • Voice your confusion. “I don’t get why…” is valuable signal.
  • Note when things click. “Oh, that’s why they…” shows where explanation worked.

Key Takeaways

  • 4x faster than typing (speaking > typing speed)
  • Richer feedback — captures your learning trace, not just conclusions
  • Structural insights — shows where content should be reorganized
  • Better AI context — when you process the transcript, AI knows your thought process

Stop typing reviews. Start talking.

Your review transcript is more valuable than you realize—it’s not just feedback, it’s a map of how someone experiences your content.