Brainstorming Ideas
Stuck in a creative rut? Need fresh ideas? AI is like having a brainstorming partner who never runs out of suggestions and won't judge your wild ideas.
What You'll Learn
How to use AI to generate ideas, explore possibilities, and break through creative blocks.
Why This Matters
Great ideas don't always come on demand. AI can help you generate lots of options quickly, then you pick the best ones.
Why AI Is Great for Brainstorming
- Quantity on demand - Get 10, 20, or 50 ideas quickly
- No judgment - All ideas are welcome
- Different perspectives - AI can think in ways you might not
- Building blocks - Use AI ideas to spark your own
- Always available - Brainstorm anytime
Basic Brainstorming
Just ask for ideas:
"Give me 10 ideas for [topic]"
For example:
"Give me 10 ideas for a birthday party theme for a 5-year-old who loves dinosaurs"
Quantity Over Quality
For brainstorming, more is better:
"Give me 20 different names for a pet grooming business"
"List 15 possible blog post topics about personal finance for young professionals"
"Suggest 30 quick dinner ideas using chicken"
You'll filter later - for now, generate!
Specific Constraints
Add boundaries for focused ideas:
"Give me 10 team-building activity ideas that:
- Work for remote teams
- Take less than 30 minutes
- Don't require any equipment
- Are fun but not cheesy"
Different Brainstorming Approaches
Traditional List
"List 10 ideas for marketing our new app"
Categories
"Give me podcast episode ideas in three categories: interviews, how-to, and storytelling"
Wild and Practical
"Give me 5 practical ideas and 5 wild/creative ideas for our product launch event"
Building on Ideas
"Here's my initial idea: [your idea]. Give me 5 variations or ways to expand on it"
Opposite Thinking
"I want to increase customer retention. What are 5 ideas that are the opposite of what most companies do?"
Refining Ideas
Once you have options:
"From those 10 ideas, which 3 would be most impactful for a small business with limited budget?"
Or:
"Take idea #3 and give me 5 ways to make it even better"
Or:
"Combine ideas #2 and #7 into something new"
Try It Yourself
Pick a challenge you're facing and brainstorm:
Then refine:
- "Which of these would work for a 15-minute presentation?"
- "Give me more ideas like #4"
- "How would I actually implement #2?"
Brainstorming for Different Purposes
Business Ideas
"What are 10 side business ideas for someone with marketing experience who can only work weekends?"
Content Ideas
"Give me 20 YouTube video ideas for a channel about cooking for beginners"
Problem Solving
"My team keeps missing deadlines. What are 10 different approaches we could try?"
Personal Life
"I want to meet more people in my city. What are 15 ways to make new friends as an adult?"
Events and Activities
"We need ideas for our company holiday party. Give me 12 theme ideas that aren't cliche"
The "Yes, And" Technique
Build on AI's ideas:
AI: "You could host a trivia night"
You: "I like that. What if we made it industry-specific? Give me 5 ways to theme a trivia night for a marketing team"
AI: [Gives themed ideas]
You: "Let's go with the 'Marketing Fails Through History' theme. What categories should we include?"
When You're Really Stuck
Sometimes you need a push:
"I've been staring at a blank page. Help me brainstorm [topic] by asking me 5 questions that will help generate ideas"
AI will ask questions that get you thinking.
Pro Tip
Don't stop at the first round:
"Good ideas. Now give me 10 more, but weirder and more creative this time"
Or:
"These are all fairly obvious. What are some unconventional or surprising approaches?"
Pushing for more often yields the best ideas.
Common Questions
Q: What if all the ideas are bad?
A: Ask for different approaches: "Try a different angle" or "Give me ideas that are completely different from these." Sometimes specifying constraints helps.
Q: Can I mix AI ideas with my own?
A: Absolutely! That's the best approach. Use AI to expand your thinking, then blend with your own insights.
Q: How many ideas should I ask for?
A: For brainstorming, aim high - 10-20 at minimum. You can always ask for more.
Q: Should I share AI-generated ideas as my own?
A: For internal brainstorming, yes - they're idea seeds for you to develop. For formal proposals, develop and personalize them before presenting.
What's Next
Ideas are the first step. Next, we'll learn how AI can help you solve problems and think through challenges.