How Dr. Samantha Imber uses AI and tech to work smarter

Executive overview

Most people use AI tools generically and get generic results. Specialised, task-specific AI configurations — not off-the-shelf prompts — are what separate heavy users from dabblers.

Imber combines custom GPTs, academic AI search, and voice-first tools to compress research, writing, and meeting workflows. Her task management pairs time-boxing with a deliberate split between deep and shallow work systems.

The core insight: build dedicated AI configurations for recurring tasks rather than starting from a blank prompt each time.

AI for research and writing

• Consensus.app searches millions of academic papers; returns evidence-strength ratings and consensus verdicts on yes/no questions
• Deep research in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity used for podcast guest prep
• Task-specific GPTs built for narrow jobs: podcast title generation, Instagram Reel scripting, newsletter editing
• Google ecosystem equivalent: Gems; Microsoft: Agents; Claude: Projects
• Newsletter workflow: capture idea in Notion → talk through it → GPT shapes it to 500–700 words in her writing style

Managing tasks and avoiding reactivity

• Weekly ritual: identify key projects, then time-box each as a calendar meeting with yourself
• When something urgent displaces a time-box, move it to the next day — don't drop it
• Four-day work week means Friday mornings serve as a spillover buffer for pushed tasks
• Deep work tasks live in Notion; shallow work tasks go into Apple Reminders
• Use Siri on the go to capture shallow tasks with a reminder time — keeps them out of your head

Reducing context switching

• Protect one hour per day of uninterrupted deep work — start small, not ideal
• The night before, ask: "What is the most important thing I can do tomorrow?"
• Time-box that task; overestimate duration so you finish early and feel ahead
• Freedom for desktop website/app blocking
• Forest (mobile): grow a digital tree during focus time — checking your phone kills it
• One Sec (mobile): intercepts app opens with a pause and "are you sure?" prompt

Favourite tech tools

• WisprFlow: keyboard shortcut activates speech-to-text in any app; near-perfect transcription; faster than typing; reduces neck and shoulder strain from extended keyboard use
• Granola: background meeting transcription combined with your own notes; produces a merged summary at the end; no obtrusive bot joining the call
• Snipd: podcast listening app; lets you clip key moments and generates an AI summary of the clip

Psychological safety and trust

• High psych safety requires leaders to model vulnerability, not just encourage it
• Sharing personal struggles (e.g., burnout) with a direct report was a turning point in building genuine trust
• Trust is a precursor to psych safety — without it, safety measures are surface-level
• Recommend listening to the How I Work episode with Ali Sully for a detailed case study

Upcoming book: The Energy Game

• Publishing July 2026 with Penguin; manuscript submitted October 2025
• Pre-orders expected to open around April 2026
• Title held from the original book proposal — unusual; previous two books had their titles changed by the publisher
• Two editorial rounds: structural edit (flow, rewrites) then copy edit (fine detail)