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48 Hours Without A.I.

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<img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/10/29/arts/AJ-Jacobs_THUMBNAIL/AJ-Jacobs_THUMBNAIL-jumbo.jpg?auto=webp&quality=75" data-testid="betamax-poster" sizes="(width
A.J. Jacobs went 48 hours without interacting with artificial intelligence. That meant more than just avoiding generative A.I. tools like ChatGPT – he did his best to not interact with any products that used any kind of machine-learning algorithms in their production, marketing or distribution. This was more limiting than expected; Jacobs needed to find ways around using electricity, running water and more. The 48-hour experiment revealed just how embedded artificial intelligence already is in our daily lives.

By A.J. Jacobs, Edward Vega and Melanie Bencosme

October 29, 2025

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