How to Actually Think With AI (Not Just Ask It Questions)

This single prompt already fixes about 50% of "why does this feel generic?" complaints.

The Most Important Upgrade: Ask for Reasoning, Not Answers

One of the biggest mistakes people make is asking for final answers too quickly.

AI is very good at producing confident outputs. It's even better when you ask it to show its thinking.

Instead of "What should I do?" try "Walk me through how you'd think about this, then give a recommendation."

You'll notice something interesting when you use this approach. Even when you disagree with the conclusion, the thinking is still useful. That's when AI stops being a content tool and starts becoming a thinking tool.

Reasoning-first

When Not to Use AI (Yes, Really)

This is important, and it often gets skipped.

There are moments when using AI too early actually makes things worse.

Don't use AI when:

• You don't yet understand the problem
• You're still emotionally reacting
• You're trying to avoid making a judgement call

In these moments, AI will happily give you structured nonsense that sounds helpful but nudges you in the wrong direction.

Instead, do this first:

• Write the problem in plain English
• Note what you don't know yet
• Decide what kind of help you actually want

Then bring AI in.

Clarifying the problem

This prompt alone saves an enormous amount of wasted effort.

From "Fine" to Useful: Pushing Past the Average

Define What "Better" Actually Means

This alone removes a huge amount of "AI politeness fog".

Use Contrast on Purpose

One of the fastest ways to raise quality is to force contrast.

Instead of asking for "the best version", ask for multiple positions.

Even if you don't use either version directly, the comparison sharpens your thinking.

Treat Feedback as Prompt Material

Most people respond to weak outputs by starting again. That's unnecessary. Your feedback is the next prompt.

This is how prompts mature over time instead of staying disposable.

Know When "Good Enough" Is Actually Good Enough

Not everything needs to be perfect. If the output helps you make a decision, explain something clearly, or move work forward, then it's doing its job.

AI is a tool for momentum, not literary awards.

Why This Actually Matters

AI doesn't replace thinking. It amplifies whatever thinking you bring to it.

Clear thinking in, useful insight out. Messy thinking in, polished confusion out.

Once you internalise that, prompting becomes much less mysterious and far more reliable.

AI is exceptionally good at producing acceptable output. It only becomes genuinely valuable when you:

• Give it direction
• Force it to take a position
• Use it iteratively rather than transactionally

That's the difference between using AI and working with it.

Try This Next

Pick one real problem you're currently wrestling with and run it through just one of the prompts above. Don't rush. Treat it like a conversation, not a command.

Or take one piece of AI-generated content you've already written off as "fine" and run it through the contrast or refinement prompts. You'll be surprised how much value was hiding just beneath the surface.

You'll feel the difference immediately.