Boosting creativity with AI methods for idea generation

Creativity is the driving force behind every new project, whether it's a business idea, a new article, or innovative content. If you find yourself in an ideas block or simply need new insights, artificial intelligence (AI) can be the perfect partner for your creative process. In this guide, you will learn how to use AI to generate fresh concepts in just a few minutes. We cover effective methods such as lightning brainstorming and the SCAMPER method to take your ideation to the next level.

Key insights

• AI is a powerful sparring partner for ideation.
• Effective preparation is crucial for successful brainstorming.
• Three different methods – lightning brainstorming, SCAMPER, and perspective shift – bring new perspectives into the creative process.
• You can further refine your concepts through role reversal and variations.

Effective Preparation for Brainstorming

Before you start, consider a few basic steps for successful brainstorming. First, it is important to clearly define the problem. What exactly do you need among the ideas? Are you looking for a headline, a product concept, or ideas for content? Lay the groundwork by defining the scope, target audience, and purpose of your project. You may need ideas for social media targeted at fitness enthusiasts.

Openness is another important point. Be ready to accept even utopian or outlandish suggestions. Often, the best concepts arise from these ideas. Remember: Good preparation makes brainstorming with AI significantly more efficient.

Methods of AI Brainstorming

Now I come to the methods of AI-driven brainstorming. You can look forward to three valuable approaches that will help you develop new ideas.

First, we have lightning brainstorming. This method requires a short prompt that can deliver up to 20 ideas in 30 seconds. An example could be: “Give me 20 ideas for blog articles on the topic of home office productivity.” With this quickly generated list, you have many rough ideas at hand from which you can later select.

Then there is the SCAMPER method. SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. You can apply this method to various concepts, such as an online photography course. You take one idea for each point and develop structured creativity with it. An example might be to replace the classic course approach with interactive photo collages that participants can upload in a closed community to receive mutual feedback.

The third method is role reversal and perspective shift. In this technique, you put yourself in different perspectives to generate new ideas. You can try to put yourself in the shoes of a child or a professional. Ask the AI for ideas from these different viewpoints. An example might be to ask for 45 YouTube video ideas on the topic of AI in everyday life from the perspective of a comedian.

Checklist for Effective Brainstorming

Before you start your first AI session, check these points:

• Clarify style: Understand what type of ideas you need.
• Set context: Define the target audience, medium, and style.
• Choose a method: Take a method such as lightning brainstorming, SCAMPER, or role reversal.
• Design prompts: Pay attention to relevant questions and tasks. Vary the prompt formulations for fresh ideas.

Practical Examples of Brainstorming with AI

Now it gets exciting! In this section, we will show you some concrete examples of how the previously mentioned methods can be applied in practice. First, we use lightning brainstorming to generate ideas for blog articles on the topic of efficient work in the home office. In just a few minutes, you will generate 20 valuable ideas – from ergonomic workplace tips to strategies for virtual meetings.

Next, we take the SCAMPER method and apply it to an online course for photography. You ask the AI to convert each of the SCAMPER categories into ideas for your course and receive valuable inputs that help you develop tangible content.

With the perspective shifts, we experiment with the viewpoint of a ten-year-old child. The AI generates playful ideas that lead to easily understandable experiments on artificial intelligence. Such insights are inspiring and far removed from boring or academic approaches.

Conclusion and Outlook

The summarized insights from this guide help you significantly improve your creative processes. You have learned how to use AI as a valuable partner in brainstorming, and how methods like lightning brainstorming, SCAMPER, and role reversal can be utilized. Use the checklist to ensure that you pay attention to all important points, and test the practice prompts for your ideation.

Summary – Ideation and brainstorming with AI: This is how you unlock your creativity