How to use AI for brainstorming

AI holds so much potential that it can be overwhelming. Planning a trip to Rome? AI can help you figure out an itinerary. Trying to use up the groceries in your fridge? AI can whip up a recipe. You’ve likely started using AI for all sorts of scenarios. But while you’re experimenting, you’ll also begin to run into limitations. 

The trick to AI is figuring out where it can effectively deliver value in your life and where it falls short, then leaning into the most effective use cases. For instance, AI may not be able to write a great book, but it can help you organize plot points. It can also help you in one of the most crucial phases of project planning: brainstorming.

Using AI for brainstorming is like accessing a whole other brain. In this article, we’ll go over the benefits, which tools to use, and how to properly utilize them to get the most out of the brainstorming process.

Benefits of using AI for brainstorming 

If you’re new to using AI, you may not know why it’s worth trying. But here’s why it’s so valuable:

• It doesn’t share your viewpoints: Your own brainstorming stops at your knowledge's end, but AI is limitless. You have biases, language limitations, and perspectives that AI doesn’t share. For example, let’s say you’re brainstorming a new recipe. Your knowledge may be limited to ingredients available at your local supermarket and you’ll be biased by what you’ve seen at local restaurants. But, AI can brainstorm using ingredients and methods from all over the world and throughout history. 

• It doesn’t get writer’s block: AI doesn’t experience the fear of a blank page. What it lacks in quality, it makes up for in quantity, so you’ll never be short of ideas and inspiration to think outside the box.

• It fills gaps: Humans aren’t great at analyzing huge data sets, and we certainly can’t do it instantaneously. That’s where AI excels. In seconds, it can identify common denominators or paths of least resistance, create maps, and interpret data.

But, of course, there are limitations, too. AI can offer you options and ideas, but it can’t automatically make considerations for which is best. That’s why it’s helpful for brainstorming specifically. AI can provide many options, and then you can use your intuition and contextual knowledge to vet them and decide what’s best.

AI brainstorming tools

Are you eager to get started? We’ll walk you through some of our favorite AI brainstorming tools so you can try them all.

ChatGPT

Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is a text-based chat bot designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the input it receives. It can have conversations, answer questions, write content, and assist with a variety of tasks that primarily involve language. ChatGPT can also produce images and it allows you to upload your own for reference. However, it doesn't have real-time awareness of current events or access to the internet, and its responses can lack depth and be prone to error, especially with highly specialized or niche topics. You don’t need an account to access ChatGPT, and it’s free. Advanced features are also available with a subscription.

Gemini

Gemini doesn’t require an account, either, and is also free. Google’s AI assistant claims it’s faster than ChatGPT (though they’re both instant, so there’s no noticeable difference), and it prides itself on exceptional brainstorming. Like ChatGPT, Gemini is text-based, but can also answer questions in relation to photos you upload. So, for instance, if you uploaded a picture of your living room and asked for decorating ideas, it could understand the elements of the photo and give you text responses. However, it won’t alter the image as a response.  

Collaborative AI

Lucid’s AI tool is embedded directly into Lucid. Instead of generating ideas individually, your team can utilize the AI feature in a brainstorming session and review responses together in real time. Collaborative AI can help you brainstorm more than before and identify themes in ideas. After your session, it can also summarize what you accomplished and suggest next steps. Collaborative AI essentially takes the logistical work out of conducting a brainstorming session and incorporates all the world’s knowledge to draw upon. 

AI brainstorming prompts

Though the above AI tools have virtually no learning curve (just type and hit enter to see a result), there’s still a bit of art in understanding what type into the tool to generate the best result. 

AI prompts are the instructions the AI needs to follow. Prompts help shape how the AI responds. The more specific you are, the more likely the AI will provide you with a proper response.

Tips for writing AI brainstorm prompts 

1. Be clear and specific: Instead of “Give me a bread recipe,” consider something like, “Give me a sourdough bread recipe that doesn’t require a starter or a bread machine.”

2. Don’t ask “yes” or “no” questions: This allows the AI to elaborate and is especially important in brainstorming.

3. Break down complex requests: The more you break down your queries, the more specific the answers AI can provide you with.

4. Provide examples:  Offering examples increases the chance of getting a proper response from AI. For example, if you’re looking for clever tagline ideas for a marketing campaign, include examples of taglines you like already.

5. Keep it natural: This is important for all AI, even when using AI for diagramming. Ask your questions in regular speech as if you were talking to a coworker on Slack. Believe it or not, politeness has been shown to actually improve the responses you get.

Use cases and examples of brainstorming 

Wondering about practical places to flex your new AI muscles? Here are some ideas:

• Generating title ideas for writing projects: Titles can often be the most challenging part of writing blogs, especially if you need to incorporate keywords. AI can help you brainstorm topics, titles, and outlines for blog posts, articles, or social media content.

• Getting solutions to problems: You’ll no longer feel limited by your own problem-solving ability when you use AI. For example, if you’re developing a business strategy and struggling with how to enter a new market, AI could help brainstorm marketing tactics, potential partners, or unique strategies for targeting your audience.

• Team activities and ice-breakers: Even just a handful of team get-togethers can quickly exhaust your team building ideas. AI can step in and provide a variety of options you haven’t considered. Include the size of your team, your budget, and time length in your query for more personalized suggestions.

AI is an incredibly powerful tool for brainstorming. You can utilize its power by checking out tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Collaborative AI to spark creativity and organize your ideas more effectively. You’re sure to wonder how you ever lived without it.