10 min read

Using AI to Think Through Problems

AI as your thinking partner

Beyond writing tasks, AI is incredibly useful as a thinking tool. It can help you:

See blind spots — "What am I missing in this plan?"

Explore alternatives — "What are 5 different ways I could approach this?"

Stress-test ideas — "Play devil's advocate on this proposal."

Organize your thoughts — "Help me structure my thinking about this decision."

The decision-making framework

When facing a decision, try this prompting pattern:

Describe the situation — what decision you're facing and why it matters

List your options — the choices you're considering (or ask AI to help generate options)

Define your criteria — what matters most (cost? speed? risk? team morale?)

Ask for analysis — "Compare these options against my criteria in a table"

Example

I need to decide whether to hire a full-time marketing coordinator or use a freelance agency for the next 6 months. My budget is $4,000/month. I need someone who can manage our social media, write blog posts, and create email campaigns. Compare these two options in a table covering: cost, flexibility, quality consistency, ramp-up time, and long-term value.

AI doesn't make the decision for you. It helps you think more clearly by organizing information and surfacing considerations you might miss. The judgment call is always yours.

Quick Check

Which prompt would give you the MOST useful analysis from AI?