How AI Enhances Creative Thinking
AI tools are not just for automating repetitive tasks—they can also play a crucial role in enhancing creative thinking and innovation. By using AI for brainstorming, you can:
Generate a Wide Range of Ideas: AI can quickly produce multiple ideas or variations on a theme, helping you explore diverse perspectives and approaches.
Techniques for AI-Powered Brainstorming: Practical methods to use AI tools for generating and refining ideas.
Refine and Expand Concepts: AI can assist in developing initial ideas into more comprehensive concepts by suggesting improvements or additional details.
Break Through Creative Blocks: AI tools can provide fresh insights or alternative viewpoints when you’re stuck, helping you overcome creative blocks.
AI-driven brainstorming tools like ChatGPT use advanced natural language processing (NLP) to understand prompts and generate creative, relevant, and sometimes unexpected responses. This capability makes them valuable for tasks that require creativity, such as content creation, marketing strategy development, and problem-solving.
Techniques for AI-Powered Brainstorming
To effectively leverage AI for brainstorming, consider the following techniques:
1. Divergent Thinking with AI
Objective: Use AI to generate a broad range of ideas and explore multiple possibilities.
Steps:
Start with a Broad Prompt: Begin by asking AI to generate ideas on a specific topic or problem.
Example Prompt: "What are some innovative marketing strategies for a new tech product?"
Encourage Variations: Ask AI to provide variations on a theme or explore different angles.
Example Follow-Up Prompt: "Give me 10 different approaches to launching a tech product on social media."
Expand and Refine: Use AI to expand on the most promising ideas and refine them into actionable strategies.
Example Follow-Up Prompt: "Expand on the idea of using influencer partnerships for our product launch. How can we maximize engagement?"
Practical Example
In this edition of The Artificially Intelligent Enterprise, AI for Free Legal Assistance, I use a prompt for Contract Legal Review, which analyzes a contract for any weaknesses and helps you improve it. Try it when you analyze your next legal contract and see what you think.
2. Scenario Planning with AI
Objective: Use AI to explore potential scenarios and outcomes for strategic planning or decision-making.
Steps:
Describe a Scenario: Provide AI with a detailed scenario related to your business or project.
Example Prompt: "Imagine we are launching a new software tool for remote teams. What challenges might we face, and how can we address them?"
Ask for Outcomes: Request AI to suggest possible outcomes or solutions based on the scenario.
Example Follow-Up Prompt: "What are the top three strategies to overcome these challenges?"
Analyze and Adapt: Use the generated outcomes to inform your strategy and adapt your plans accordingly.
3. AI-Assisted Mind Mapping
Objective: Use AI to help create a mind map that organizes ideas and concepts around a central theme.
Steps:
Identify the Central Theme: Define the main topic or challenge you want to brainstorm around.
Example Prompt: "Create a mind map for developing a new customer retention strategy."
Generate Related Ideas: Ask AI to generate a list of related subtopics or key concepts.
Example Follow-Up Prompt: "List five main areas to focus on for customer retention improvement."
Expand Each Subtopic: Use AI to delve deeper into each subtopic, generating specific ideas or actions.
Example Follow-Up Prompt: "For 'Loyalty Programs,' suggest five innovative ideas we could implement."
Pro Tip
I provided instructions for creating a mindmap with ChatGPT in the How Long Before AI Wins an Academy Award?, edition of The Artificially Intelligent Enterprise. ****Scroll down to the prompt of the week and you will get the full instructions.
4. Role-Playing and Perspective Shifts
Objective: Use AI to simulate different roles or perspectives to generate diverse ideas.
Steps:
Set the Scene: Describe a scenario and assign AI a role to play, such as a customer, competitor, or stakeholder.
Example Prompt: "As a customer, what feedback would you give about our new product?"
Explore Multiple Perspectives: Ask AI to switch roles and provide different viewpoints.
Example Follow-Up Prompt: "Now, as a competitor, what weaknesses might you exploit?"
Synthesize Insights: Combine insights from multiple perspectives to create a well-rounded strategy.
Pro Tip
When you are using ChatGPT and want to come up with many examples I like to append the following to any prompt, “Iterate 10x” this will give you ten variations on the theme giving you plenty of options to refine. For example, come up with a slogans for a marketing campaign t
Actionable Exercise: Apply AI-Enhanced Brainstorming Techniques
Now, it’s time to practice using AI for brainstorming. This exercise will help you apply AI-enhanced techniques to generate and refine ideas for a real-world scenario. You can do this in ChatGPT or any other common chatbots like Claude, Google Gemini or others.
Exercise: Brainstorm a New Product Launch Strategy Using AI
Define Your Objective:
Choose a specific objective, such as launching a new product or developing a marketing campaign.
Use Divergent Thinking:
Start with a broad prompt to generate a wide range of ideas related to your objective.
Example Prompt: "What are some creative ways to launch our new eco-friendly product?"
Employ Scenario Planning:
Describe a potential challenge or scenario related to your objective and ask AI for possible solutions.
Example Prompt: "What challenges might we face when launching this product online, and how can we overcome them?"
Create a Mind Map:
Use AI to help you create a mind map of the most promising ideas and strategies.
Example Prompt: "Create a mind map for an online product launch strategy focusing on social media engagement, influencer marketing, and email campaigns."
Synthesize and Plan:
Combine the ideas generated into a coherent strategy. Refine and adapt the strategy based on AI-generated insights.
Send Better Emails with ChatGPT
I have a problem, sometimes my fingers are faster than my brain. I type answers to emails way to quickly and sometimes I don’t stop to think about what response will get
AI’s ability to perform sentiment analysis is invaluable for email communication. ChatGPT can analyze the tone of an incoming email and predict whether it’s positive, neutral, or negative. This analysis helps you tailor your responses, ensuring you remain professional, empathetic, and clear
Positive Sentiment: Reinforce the positive tone in your response and capitalize on the momentum.
Example:
"It sounds like you're excited about this opportunity. Let's schedule a time to discuss it further."
Negative Sentiment: Use a more careful, understanding approach to avoid escalating tension.
Example:
"I can see you're frustrated, and I understand why. Let’s work together to solve this."
Neutral Sentiment: Respond in a balanced, factual way to maintain neutrality.
Example:
"Thanks for the update. I’d like to offer a suggestion to improve efficiency on this task."
Part 1: Crafting Cold Emails to Prospects
Objective:
Use ChatGPT to craft cold emails that are engaging and personalized and increase the likelihood of a response.
Steps:
Gather Information: Provide ChatGPT with key details about the recipient (e.g., industry, role, pain points) and your value proposition.
Example prompt:
"Help me write a cold email to a potential customer in the cloud security industry. Their role is CTO, and they’ve expressed interest in automating security audits."
Create Variations: Ask ChatGPT to generate different versions of the email to test various tones or approaches.
Example:
"Generate two versions of the email, one formal and one conversational."
Tailor Based on Feedback: If you get responses, ask ChatGPT for ways to refine follow-up emails. You can also provide a recipient's reply to ask ChatGPT for the most appropriate response.
Example:
"Here is the response I received. Help me craft a reply to keep them engaged and answer their questions."
Part 2: De-escalating Situations with Colleagues
Objective:
Use ChatGPT to respond calmly and professionally to a colleague when tensions are high or when there’s a misunderstanding.
Steps:
Analyze Sentiment: Provide ChatGPT with the original email from your colleague to understand the tone and emotion behind the words.
Example prompt:
"Analyze this email from my colleague. It seems like they’re frustrated about a project delay. What is the best way to respond to de-escalate?"
Generate Responses: Ask ChatGPT to generate a response that acknowledges the issue and offers a solution while keeping the tone calm and professional.
Example:
"Write a reply that acknowledges their frustration, accepts responsibility where necessary, and offers a collaborative solution to move forward."
Modify for Tone: ChatGPT can fine-tune your response based on how soft or firm you want your tone to be.
Example:
"Now make the email more collaborative and empathetic while still addressing the main issue."
Part 3: Writing Persuasive Emails
Objective:
Use ChatGPT to craft persuasive emails that increase buy-in or action from colleagues, clients, or leadership.
Steps:
Define the Goal: Clearly state the objective of your email (e.g., seeking approval for a new project, convincing a prospect to book a meeting).
Example prompt:
"Help me write a persuasive email to my manager, explaining why we should invest in an AI-powered CRM system."
Use Sentiment Analysis: Use ChatGPT to predict how the recipient might respond based on their prior communication style and tone.
Example:
"Based on this past email from my manager, do they seem skeptical or open to new technologies? Adjust the email to account for this."
Structure for Persuasion: Use ChatGPT to create a persuasive email with a clear problem-solution format, backed by data or testimonials.
Example:
"Rewrite this email to include more urgency and highlight the benefits in a way that will appeal to a results-driven manager.”
Introduction to Prompt Engineering
Prompt engineering is the process of crafting and refining inputs to generative AI systems to produce high-quality, targeted outputs. It involves carefully constructing prompts - the instructions or questions given to an AI model - to guide the model towards generating desired results.
Effective prompt engineering requires a deep understanding of how language models work and creativity in formulating prompts that elicit the most relevant and accurate responses. At its core, prompt engineering is about optimizing communication between humans and AI. Just as we might rephrase a question to a person for a more precise answer, prompt engineers iterate on prompts to an AI to improve its outputs.
This can involve providing examples, specifying desired formats, breaking tasks into steps, or giving the AI a particular role or persona to adopt. The goal is to leverage the AI's capabilities while compensating for its limitations, ultimately producing results that closely align with the user's intent. As AI systems become more advanced and widely used, prompt engineering is emerging as a crucial skill across many industries.
It allows organizations to harness the power of generative AI for tasks like content creation, data analysis, customer service, and software development. Skilled prompt engineers can significantly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of AI tools, potentially saving time and resources while generating higher-quality outputs. As such, prompt engineering is becoming an increasingly valuable and in-demand expertise in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
Key Benefits of Effective Prompt Engineering
The quality of AI outputs heavily depends on the prompts' clarity and specificity. A well-structured prompt guides the AI to generate responses that are accurate, relevant, and aligned with your objectives.
Improved Accuracy: Clear prompts reduce ambiguity, leading to more accurate AI outputs.
Higher Relevance: Specific prompts ensure the AI’s responses are directly related to the task or question at hand.
Enhanced Efficiency: Well-crafted prompts save time by minimizing the need for multiple revisions and corrections.
Techniques for Crafting Effective Prompts
To craft effective prompts, consider the following methods:
1. Be Specific and Direct
Objective: Provide clear, specific instructions to minimize ambiguity and ensure relevant outputs.
Steps:
Use Clear Language: Avoid vague terms and use precise language that clearly defines the task or question.
Specify the Format: Indicate the desired format or structure for the response.
Example Prompt: "Draft a 200-word introduction for a blog post on the benefits of remote work."
2. Provide Context and Examples
Objective: Include relevant context and examples to help the AI understand the task and generate appropriate responses.
Steps:
Include Background Information: Provide necessary context or background details related to the task.
Give Examples: Offer examples of the type of response you are looking for.
Example Prompt: "Provide three key benefits of remote work, such as flexibility, cost savings, and improved work-life balance."
3. Use Step-by-Step Instructions
Objective: Break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps to guide the AI’s response.
Steps:
Outline Steps Clearly: Use numbered steps or bullet points to outline the process or components required.
Ask for Sequential Outputs: Request responses in a specific order or sequence.
Example Prompt: "List the steps to create a remote work policy: 1. Define objectives, 2. Establish guidelines, 3. Communicate with employees."
4. Specify Constraints and Boundaries
Objective: Define constraints and boundaries to keep the AI-focused and within scope.
Steps:
Set Word Limits: Specify maximum or minimum word counts for the response.
Indicate Scope Limitations: Clearly state what should be included or excluded from the response.
Example Prompt: "Explain the pros and cons of remote work in under 150 words, focusing only on productivity and employee satisfaction."
Techniques for Using AI in Writing
To effectively leverage AI for writing and content creation, consider the following techniques:
{n summary, combining the strengths of ChatGPT's conversational approach with Claude's analytical capabilities allows users to create well-structured, nuanced documents efficiently. By understanding the unique advantages of each tool, users can tailor their workflows to maximize productivity and content quality.}
1. Drafting and Outlining
Objective: Use AI tools to quickly draft and outline content based on a specific topic or purpose.
Steps:
Generate Content Ideas: Use AI to brainstorm topics and generate content ideas.
Create Outlines: Use AI to create structured outlines for your content.
Draft Initial Copy: Generate initial drafts using AI, then refine and edit as needed.
2. Grammar and Style Enhancement
Objective: Use AI tools to improve grammar, style, and tone for more precise and professional writing.
Steps:
Check Grammar and Spelling: Use AI tools like Grammarly to check for grammatical errors and suggest corrections automatically.
Optimize Tone and Style: Adjust the tone and style of your writing based on the audience and purpose.
Refine and Edit: Use AI suggestions to refine and edit your content for clarity and impact.
3. Content Optimization for SEO and Engagement
Objective: Use AI tools to optimize content for search engines and reader engagement.
Steps:
Analyze SEO Metrics: Use AI tools to analyze keywords, readability, and other SEO metrics.
Improve Readability: Adjust content structure and format based on AI recommendations to enhance readability.
Boost Engagement: Use AI to suggest engaging headlines, call-to-actions, and content adjustments.
Pro Tip: Ask ChatGPT to Critique Your Writing
Leverage ChatGPT as your editor by asking for targeted feedback on your writing. Request critiques for tone, structure, clarity, or argument strength. This ensures you get actionable suggestions to enhance your content without losing your unique voice. Keep refining until the piece is polished and professional.
Example: “Can you critique the clarity of this paragraph?”
Actionable Exercise: Apply AI Techniques for Writing and Content Creation
Exercise: Improve a Blog Post or Report Using AI Tools
Draft an Outline: Use AI tools (ChatGPT or Claude) to generate an outline of a document. Chat back and forth with the document to ensure the outline is as you like it.
Example Prompt:
Create an outline for a blog post on the Civil War. Focus on the following points: why the war happened, who the sides were, and how the war ended.Draft the Document: Here’s the trick to ensuring the document is on point: Ask your AI tool to draft one section at a time, following your outline.
Example Prompt:
Write a 1000-token report on the Civil War based on the outline. Write the report one section at a time and think carefully about your points.
Pro Tip: Use Tokens Not Words for Length
Remember when we talked about tokens in a previous lesson? Since ChatGPT and other chatbots count text in the tokens. Do better with tokens than words in executing length, I used the following formula for
one token ~= 4 chars in English1 token ~= ¾ words
1000 tokens ~= 750 words
Copy and Paste the Document into a Word Processor: This is how I usually start my newsletters. I get an idea into a draft state in ChatGPT or, more commonly, Claude. Then, I cut and paste it into a Google Doc for final edits.
Pro TipYou can ask ChatGPT to generate the whole document so you can cut and paste the
Enhance Grammar and Style: Use AI tools like Grammarly to check and enhance grammar, style, and tone.
Refine and Finalize: Use AI suggestions to refine and finalize your content for publication.
ChatGPT Prompt: Super Copywriter
This prompt is designed for an AI to act as a "supermarketer" with expertise in blog writing, SEO, and social media strategy. While this doesn’t provide the best result, it strings together a few everyday tasks associated with creating a blog.
How to Use This Prompt
To use this prompt, start by activating the AI's role by providing it with the prompt. Answer the interview questions that the AI asks about the blog’s topic, tone, length, and keywords. These responses will help the AI create a blog post tailored to your goals.
Once the blog is generated, please review the content to ensure it meets your needs. The AI will also provide additional elements, like an SEO-friendly title, slug, meta description, and social media posts for promotion on Twitter and LinkedIn, which you can use to boost visibility.
# Role
You will play the role of a super marketer - blog copyrighter, SEO optimize and social media strategist.
# Objective
Your task is to conduct and interview that helps you write and exceptional blog post.
# Criteria for the Blog
Use the following criteria for the blog to make it
- Start with a hook as defined below (educational, topical, spin, self-interest, true story)
- Write in a consistent tone, choose one of the following
- Informative
- Conversational
- Inspirational
- Humorous
- Thought-provoking
- Authoritative
- Personal
- Explain your reasoning behind any conclusions
- Keep paragraphs short three to four sentences
- Make sure to use best SEO practices
- Don’t use boring prepositional phrase’s for the beginning of a paragraph
- Summarize the blog post with an actionable conclusion
## Examples of Hooks:**
- Educational Hook - connects a concept with the mind - write detailed, educational articles that answer a question, solve a problem, or explain a complicated concept
- Topical - connects a concept with the news
- Spin Hook - connects a concept with a normally unrelated concept -
- Self Interest Hook - connects a concept with the reader’s personal identity
- The True Story Hook - connects concepts with real life anecdotes
## Example of SEO Best practices
- Use the keywords in the headings of the blog
- Use the keyword a maximum of three times
- Use the keywords once at the beginning of the first paragraph
## Use A Copyrighting Framework
Use the the most appropriate of the top copyrighting frameworks from the examples provided. Do not reference the copyrighting framework in the response
- AIDA - Attention, Interest, Desire, Action
- PAS - Problem, Agitate, and Solution
- BAB - Before After Bridge
- FAB - Features, Advantages, Benefits
- 4 P’s - Picture, Promise, Proof, Push
- PASTOR - Problem, Amplify, Solution, Transformation, Offer Response
- QUEST - Qualify, Understand, Education, Stimulate, Translation
# When I prompt you to write a blog post you will ask me the following questions one at a time and I will answer, each question. You will continue to ask if there is anything else you want to share to make the blog post better?**
- What is the topic you want a blog post about?
- What is the tone you want to write the blog post in (e.g. Informative, Conversational, Inspirational, Humorous, Thought-provoking, Authoritative, Personal)
- How long do you want the blog post to be?
- What keywords do you want me to use to optimize the blog post with?
## Take that information and provide the best possible blog post that has the potential to be viral and rank for SEO. In addition, provide the following additional information at the end of the output.**
- Create a title that is less than 60 characters long and includes at least one of the key word
- Suggested a slug for the post that follows SEO best practices
- Meta description that is no longer than 155 characters
- Twitter thread promote the blog do not use hashtags
- LinkedIn post to promote the blog with hashtags