What you built
- Registered for a free public API and learned what API keys are
- Used AI to fetch and interpret real-time transport data
- Built a morning commute briefing from multiple data sources — by speaking
- Compared commute options using natural language
- Tracked live vehicle positions across Auckland
- All for free, in under 45 minutes
What you learned
- How to register for and use a public API — a transferable skill for any data source
- How AI bridges the gap between raw data and human understanding
- How to write prompts that combine multiple data sources into one answer
- How to ask complex, multi-part questions in natural language — by voice or text
- How real-time transport data works (GTFS Realtime)
- How voice input with Wispr Flow makes the experience hands-free
Make it a morning habit
The real power of this workflow is when it becomes part of your daily routine. Here’s how to make your morning commute check take 10 seconds:Say this or copy this prompt
Ideas to try
Multi-modal commute
Combine bus, train, and ferry data in one query. Just say: “What’s the fastest way from Devonport to the CBD right now — ferry then walk, or bus to Britomart?”
Weather + commute combo
Add weather data to your morning briefing. Say: “Check the AT API and also tell me the weather in Auckland — is it raining? Should I take the bus instead of walking to the train station?”
Share with your team
Create a commute briefing for your whole team. Collect everyone’s routes and build a single prompt that checks all of them. Share the summary in Slack or Teams.
Event day planning
Before big events at Eden Park or Mt Smart, ask: “Are there extra services running for the event tonight? What’s the best public transport option?”
Advanced prompts
Prompt: weekly commute analysis
Prompt: weekly commute analysis
Say this or copy this prompt
Prompt: event day planning
Prompt: event day planning
Say this or copy this prompt
Prompt: accessibility check
Prompt: accessibility check
Say this or copy this prompt
Other APIs you can try
The same technique — give AI a URL + API key + a question — works with thousands of free APIs. Here are some relevant ones for New Zealand:OpenWeatherMap
Free weather API. Combine it with AT data for weather-aware commute advice. Register at openweathermap.org.
data.govt.nz
New Zealand’s open government data portal. Hundreds of free datasets on everything from census data to environmental monitoring.
Reflect
What surprised you about using voice + AI with live data?
What surprised you about using voice + AI with live data?
Many people are surprised that you can speak a question and AI fetches and interprets real-time data without any coding. The API returns raw JSON designed for software to consume — but AI can read it and explain it in plain English. Adding voice input makes the experience feel like talking to a knowledgeable assistant who happens to have access to Auckland’s entire transport network.
How does this compare to existing apps?
How does this compare to existing apps?
Google Maps and the AT app are polished and convenient for simple queries. The AI approach shines when you want to combine data, ask complex questions, or customise the output. Think of it as the difference between a calculator and a spreadsheet — both do maths, but one is more flexible. And with voice input, you can get answers without even looking at a screen.
What other data sources could you connect?
What other data sources could you connect?
The same technique works with any API — weather, news, stock prices, sports scores, government data. New Zealand has many free data sources at data.govt.nz. Once you know how to give AI a URL and ask a question, the possibilities are wide open.
Resources
Thank you for completing this tutorial! You went from zero to querying real-time transport data with AI — by voice. The ability to connect AI to any data source and ask questions in natural language is a skill that grows more valuable every day — take it with you.