From TIME · Angela Haupt · · 1m 10s
Brainstorm Before AI
Write three ideas first to keep AI from doing all your thinking.
In brief
Write three ideas first to keep AI from doing all your thinking. Brainstorming before using AI helps maintain unique ideas and creativity. Originally reported by TIME.
Brainstorming mistake
A college student named a basil plant using ChatGPT instead of brainstorming with roommates.
“Who the hell cares what the name of the basil plant is?”
Why brainstorm first
Neuroscientist Adam Green says AI fills the blank page fear but loses unique ideas and creativity.
“We’re all scared of the blank page”
AI causes anchoring
AI offers narrow ideas leading to fixation and similar outputs from users.
“You’re going to have a hard time thinking of ideas beyond that narrow set of possibilities”
Human ideas are unique
Human essays explore wider ideas than AI-generated essays in college admissions research.
“When we adopt AI’s ideas as our own, our own ideas become similar to each other”
How to brainstorm
Write three rough ideas for gifts, work, or conversations before using AI.
“Write your own raw draft before you ever use AI”
Naked draft rule
Erica Dhawan calls writing raw drafts before AI the 'naked draft rule'.
“Write your own raw draft before you ever use AI”
AI without losing ideas
Share your ideas with AI to get better suggestions and critiques.
“What do I think?”
AI as a question tool
Ask AI questions to help recall personal details for messages or solutions.
“What’s a memory with this person that still makes you laugh?”
Evaluate AI responses
Check AI suggestions for accuracy and personal relevance before using them.
“First, we actually have to think, then we use it to challenge our thinking and make it better”
Why it matters
Brainstorming before AI keeps unique ideas and creativity intact.
“Thinking is hard, but it’s also wonderful”
What it means
Brainstorming before using AI helps maintain unique ideas and creativity.
