Use AI to Improve your thinking: 3 prompts that train your brain

Brainstorming has always been a big part of my work. Over time, i’ve realized that the quality of our ideas depends entirely on the quality of our thinking.

The best part is that generating great ideas isn't a special talent. It’s a skill anyone can develop.. here I’ll share a practical method i started using (with AI as my intellectual partner) to improve my thinking and the quality of ideas i produce.

How to use AI to improve the quality of your thinking

Normally, 90% of people use AI this way, the flow of information is: You ask a question → AI gives an answer.

The problem is that when the AI gives you an answer, your brain stops working, it enters "consumption mode." Try instead the opposite, what i call "Critical Thinking/Creative" mode, where you flip the flow: You give a topic → you ask AI to ask you questions → you generate the idea. (Now you are forced to connect neurons you haven't connected before.)

Here are three prompt strategies you can use:

Strategy A: The “Interviewer”

Use this when you have a vague idea (such as a book plot or a startup concept) but need to flesh it out.

Prompt:
"I have an idea for [X]. Do not give me suggestions. Instead, act as a skeptical interviewer. Ask me one question at a time about the logic, the audience, or the motivation behind this idea. Wait for my answer before asking the next question. Your goal is to help me clarify my own thoughts."

Strategy B: The “Perspective Shifter”

Use this when you are stuck and can only see one solution.

Prompt:
"I am trying to solve [Problem Y]. I feel stuck. Ask me 3 provocative questions that force me to look at this problem from the perspective of [a villain / a child / a broke college student / a minimalist]. Don't solve it for me; just force me to shift my perspective."

Strategy C: The “Blind Spot” Illuminator

Use this when you think you are finished, to check for depth.

Prompt:
"Here is my plan for [Z]. Don't rewrite it. Instead, point out the one area that is most vague and ask me a specific question that forces me to add detail to that section."

If you want to master these frameworks, build the skills that matter most, and invest in your growth so you stay ahead of where the industry is moving, join the waitlist for my Gen AI Strategy Session.