How to Use AI to Think Better (Not Just Work Faster)

The short answer

You can use AI to think better — not just work faster — by treating it as a thinking partner instead of a content machine. Use it to challenge your assumptions, generate options you would not have considered, and pressure-test decisions before you make them.

The mistake most people make with AI

Most people use AI as a faster typist. They prompt it to “write me an email” or “summarize this article.” That is fine, but it is a tiny fraction of what AI is actually good at.

The real upgrade is using AI as a thinking assistant — a sparring partner that helps you reason more clearly, see blind spots, and make better decisions.

3 ways to use AI to think better

1. As a decision pressure-tester

Before making a meaningful decision, paste the context into your AI and ask:

“What are the three strongest arguments against this decision?”
“What would I be missing if I went this direction?”
“Who would disagree with this and why?”

You are not asking it to decide for you. You are asking it to surface the reasoning you would otherwise miss.

2. As an idea generator

When you are stuck on a problem, AI is a near-infinite brainstorming partner. Ask for 20 different angles on the same problem. Most will be bad. The 21st will be the one you would never have thought of.

This is especially powerful for: naming things, writing hooks, planning content, structuring projects, and breaking down vague goals.

3. As a personal Socratic teacher

Instead of asking “explain X,” ask “ask me 5 questions that test whether I actually understand X.” This flips the dynamic from passive consumption to active thinking.

Prompt patterns that make AI smarter

The “argue against me” prompt

I am about to do [decision]. Argue the strongest possible case against this decision. Be ruthless and specific.

The “what am I missing” prompt

Here is the context: [paste context]. Here is my plan: [plan]. What are the 3 things I am most likely to be missing?

The “second-order thinking” prompt

If I do [X], what is the likely outcome in 1 month? In 6 months? In 2 years? What downstream effects am I underestimating?

The “different lens” prompt

Reframe this problem from 5 different perspectives: a designer, an engineer, a customer, a competitor, and a 10-year-old.

What AI is bad at (so you do not have to learn the hard way)

Lived experience — it has none
Original taste — it averages, it does not invent
Real judgment under uncertainty — it sounds confident even when it is wrong
Knowing what is true today — its knowledge is dated

Use it as a thinking partner. Not as an oracle. Your judgment is still the last layer.

The daily AI thinking habit

Once a day, take whatever decision or problem is on your mind and run it through one of the prompt patterns above. 5 minutes. That single habit will sharpen your thinking faster than any productivity app.

FAQ

Which AI is best for thinking, not just writing?

Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini are all strong. The differences matter less than the prompts you use. A good thinker with a basic AI beats a bad thinker with the best AI.

Will AI make me a worse thinker?

It can — if you outsource your reasoning. Or it can make you sharper, if you use it to challenge yours. Same tool, opposite outcomes, depending on the habit.

Is it safe to share decisions with AI?

Avoid sharing sensitive financial, medical, or personal data. For most everyday decisions, AI is a private and useful sounding board.

About the Author

Blake Murphy is the author of Still Here, a book about resilience, growth, and finding meaning in everyday life. Learn more about the book →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can AI help me think better?

Use AI to challenge your assumptions, surface counterarguments, and reframe problems — not just to write faster. The point is sharper thinking, not just more output.

What is the best prompt for using AI as a thinking partner?

Try: ‘Steelman the opposite view of what I just said’ or ‘What is the strongest argument against this plan?’ The friction is where the thinking happens.

Will using AI make me a worse thinker?

Only if you outsource judgment. If you use AI to expose your blind spots and force yourself to defend your ideas, it makes you sharper, not lazier.