Maybe you’re already using AI to help you research a specific topic for work or school. But what if you just want to explore an idea and see where it goes? You aren’t looking for a concrete “output” or answer, you want a playful process. An AI brainstorming tool can be a thought partner, an idea bouncer-off-er, and a smart companion to brainstorm with. Here’s the Hatch guide on how to brainstorm with AI.

Don’t ask for ideas
Ironic, right? Okay, maybe it’s more accurate to say don’t just ask for ideas. If you jump into an AI chat and ask for a list of ideas, you’ll typically get generic bullet points that do little to inspire. Instead, consider your session a conversation with the AI that can evolve. Create an opportunity for richer responses by approaching the AI conversationally. Consider this like asking open-ended questions instead of yes/no questions in a survey.

Share the backstory
The backstory for your brainstorm session is more formally called “context.” The more context you share, the smarter your AI will be, and the better results you’ll get. Don’t worry about oversharing or creating constraints with your AI. More details, more parameters will only help align the AI with your thinking. Start with basic who, what, where, when, why, and then go deeper. Here are some examples of further context to share with the AI.

• Things that inspire you or motivate you
• Things that haven’t worked in the past
• Your goals or what you’re hoping to achieve
• What success looks like
  
  Go with the flow
  The real magic of brainstorming with AI comes from the flow between you and the AI. As the AI responds, use those ideas as a springboard to deeper exploration. When the AI offers something that sparks your interest, ask for more (seriously, just write “say more on that”). Share your reactions to the responses you get and ask for variations. As your chat stream gets longer, be sure to pull out and save the promising concepts so you can come back to them later. Explore new angles as they emerge and share new references and examples that catch your eye.
  
  Ask more questions
  In Harvard Business Review, MIT lecturer Hal Gregersen suggests that breakthrough brainstorming insights come from focusing on questions, not answers. When you hit creative blocks—and you will—use the AI to help shift your perspective through questions. Ask for “what if” scenarios that challenge or directly oppose your assumptions. Have the AI evaluate and prioritize your ideas by explaining weaknesses in your thinking. Pressure test your ideas to make them stronger. Also be sure to push back. Ask the AI to explain its thinking or rationale. Ask “are you sure” and watch where the conversation goes. And don’t hesitate to redirect or refocus your conversation if it strays from productive paths. As we know, AI can make mistakes.
  
  Brainstorm with AI for the process not the outcome
  Brainstorming sessions don’t usually follow a straight path. They meander, double back and take weird and surprising little turns. So yes, you can use AI as an idea generator. But with some context and questions, AI can help you make genuine breakthroughs in your thinking.