Start here · Lesson 1.4
Free Voice to AI Template: Copy, Fill, Ship
The blank page is the real cost of writing. You open a document, stare, and type a first line you delete. A voice to AI template removes the blank page twice: once when you speak, because you have a script of prompts to answer, and once when the AI cleans up, because you have a prompt ready to paste.
Below are two templates, copy them as they are. The first is for speaking and the second is for the cleanup. After them is a filled in example. Everything here is free, and it uses your Mac's built-in dictation for the speaking part.
Lesson 1.4 walks you through it step by step: Talk to AI instead of typing.
Answer five spoken prompts out loud with dictation on, then paste the transcript under a ready made cleanup prompt.
Before you use it: turn dictation on
Open Apple menu, System Settings, Keyboard, then Dictation and switch it on. Choose a start shortcut from the Shortcut menu. Apple's guide lists options such as pressing Fn twice, and you can pick Customize for your own keys. To stop, press Escape or your shortcut again.
Template 1: the speaking script
Keep this open on screen while you dictate. Answer each line in a sentence or two, in any order.
The job: What am I making, and who is it for? The point: What is the one thing they must take away? The facts: Which names, dates, prices or details matter? The ask: What do I want them to do next? The tone: How should it sound? (For example, warm, direct, calm.)
Say "new paragraph" between answers. Apple's guide says that works like pressing Return twice, and the break appears when you finish dictating.
Template 2: the cleanup prompt
Paste this above your transcript.
This is raw dictation, so expect filler words and a few wrong words. Turn it into [the thing: email / message / plan] for [reader]. Keep my meaning and my wording where you can. Length: [number] words. Tone: [tone]. Do not add facts I did not give you. If anything is unclear, ask me before you write.
The line "do not add facts I did not give you" is worth keeping. AI tools can fill gaps with plausible details, and you do not want invented dates or prices in a customer message.
A filled in example
This example is made up for illustration. Say you run a small dog grooming shop and want to tell regulars about a new opening hour.
What you say aloud:
"This is an update for my regular customers. The main thing is we now open at eight on Saturdays. Details: the first slot is eight, we are still closed on Sundays, and the booking link has not changed. I want them to book their next slot this week. Keep it friendly and short."
The cleanup prompt, filled:
This is raw dictation, so expect filler words and a few wrong words. Turn it into a short email for regular customers of a dog grooming shop. Keep my meaning and my wording where you can. Length: about 100 words. Tone: friendly. Do not add facts I did not give you. If anything is unclear, ask me before you write.
You would then read the result and check the hours and the link before sending.
Variations to copy
| Job | Change in the script | Change in the prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Reply to a customer | Add "What did they ask?" | "Turn it into a reply to this message: [paste]" |
| End of day plan | Say everything on your mind | "Sort into must do, should do, later" |
| Social post | Add "Who is the audience?" | "Give me three versions, each under 60 words" |
| Meeting summary | Say what was decided and who owns what | "List decisions, owners and next steps" |
Tips that make the template work
- Say names and numbers slowly. These are the words most likely to come out wrong.
- If a word comes out wrong, Apple underlines ambiguous text in blue. Click the word to see alternatives.
- On a Mac with Apple silicon, Apple says you can type while dictating, so you can fix a name without stopping.
- Dictation stops by itself after 30 seconds without speech, so keep your answers flowing.
How to save and improve the template
Copy both templates into a note or text file you can open in one click. After each use, change one thing: add a line to the script that you kept forgetting to say, or add a rule to the prompt that fixed a repeated annoyance. A template that you adjust after each use becomes yours.
For more on writing the prompt side, see how to brief AI like a senior hire. If you want to see these used in varied situations, 12 voice to AI examples you can adapt today shows twelve.
A shorter version for busy days
Some days you will not want five prompts. Use this two line version: "Job and reader" and "Main point plus next step". Then paste under the same cleanup prompt. It will give a lighter draft, so use it for low stakes messages only.
Questions people ask
Is this template really free?
Yes, copy it as you like. The dictation is built into macOS. Your AI tool may have its own plan, so check its terms.
Do I have to answer all five prompts?
No. The point and the ask are the most useful. Add the others when the job needs them.
Can I use it with any AI assistant?
The prompt is plain text, so it should work with any chat assistant. Results differ between tools.
What if the AI changes my meaning?
Tighten the prompt with "keep my meaning" and read the draft carefully. Add a sample of your own writing if tone is off.
Where to go next
Copy the templates now and use them on one real job today. Lesson 1.4 shows the full process, including the setup and a practice run: Talk to AI instead of typing. It also covers turning a rambling voice note into a plan, which the end of day variation above uses.