Should you outsource your to-do list to an AI agent?

We're looking at a new wave of consumer products: personalized AI assistants. What can they do for you? And at what cost?

Listen 45:56
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during the Meta Connect conference, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Menlo Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during the Meta Connect conference, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Menlo Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

AI agents are like chatbots, but more integrated into your digital life. They can supposedly do all the busywork you don’t want to deal with… sometimes without even being asked.

Until recently, only a handful of tech-savvy early adopters had these kinds of virtual assistants. That’s changing. Last month, Meta and OpenAI launched more user-friendly versions. 

But there are tradeoffs when outsourcing your to-do list. If you want an AI agent to identify subscriptions to cancel, you’ll have to give it your banking info. If you want it to organize your emails, you’ll have to give it access to everything in your inbox. 

Today on the show: a closer look at the pros and cons of personalized AI agents.

Guest: 

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal