Beyond Brainstorming: 4 Ways to Use AI to Explore Ideas

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Beyond Brainstorming: 4 Ways to Use AI to Explore Ideas
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Beyond Brainstorming: 4 Ways to Use AI to Explore Ideas

Key Takeaways

  • AI can support more than quick ideas — it can help test, challenge, and develop your thinking.
  • By asking the right kinds of follow-up prompts, you can use AI as a strategic thinking partner.
  • Techniques like SWOTs, oppositional thinking, mapping impacts, and stakeholder analysis help structure reflection.
  • Treat AI like a sounding board, not a solution — its real value comes from dialogue, not direction.
  • Deeper prompts = deeper insight.

AI Isn’t Just for Idea Dumps

The first time most people use AI for creativity, it’s often to brainstorm:

“Give me 10 ideas for a campaign…”
“What are some ways to solve this problem?”
“List possible business names…”

And yes, it’s great for that. But that’s just the starting point.

If all you’re getting is a list, you’re leaving value on the table.

What happens next — the exploration, reframing, and questioning — is where the real thinking happens.

Here Are 4 Ways to Use AI to Go Deeper

These techniques can be used for strategy, planning, facilitation, or creative work. The key is to slow down and ask AI to think with you.

1. Ask for the Opposing Viewpoint

“What would someone who disagrees with this idea say?”
“What are the risks or weaknesses in this approach?”

Why it helps:

  • Challenges your assumptions
  • Encourages more robust planning
  • Useful in team discussions or pitch prep

2. Use a Familiar Framework (like SWOT)

“Here’s our new idea. Can you help me run a quick SWOT analysis?”
“Summarise the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of this plan.”

Why it helps:

  • Adds structure to fuzzy thinking
  • Gives you something concrete to reflect on
  • Makes it easier to bring others into the conversation

3. Map Out Stakeholders or Impact

“Who would be affected by this idea?”
“How might different teams or roles respond?”
“What questions might this raise for our customers?”

Why it helps:

  • Helps you anticipate reactions and build buy-in
  • Reinforces empathy and user-centred thinking
  • Perfect for internal change work

4. Turn the Idea Into Steps or Milestones

“Break this down into 5 practical steps.”
“What would be the first 3 things to try if we wanted to test this idea?”
“Draft a simple action plan for this concept.”

Why it helps:

  • Moves thinking from concept to action
  • Reduces overwhelm by chunking tasks
  • Supports early experimentation and prototyping

The Shift: From Output to Interaction

When you treat AI like a tool, you expect a final answer.

But when you treat it like a thinking partner, you open up a conversation.

The goal isn’t to get a perfect solution. It’s to think more deeply — with help.

Let’s Explore AI Together

At Maine Associates, we help leaders and teams get more from AI — not by rushing to answers, but by making space for better questions.

Want to explore how AI can support your team’s thinking, not just their tasks? Let’s start with a conversation.