How to Brainstorm with AI Tools

A startup team crowds around a whiteboard, trying to name a product that won’t sound like everything else on the market. In a university library, a student stares at a blank page, searching for a research question that hasn’t been done to death. During a budget review, a team leader must figure out how to stretch limited resources without derailing key projects. What all three have in common is brainstorming: the practice of generating and refining ideas to solve problems, drive innovation, and move projects forward.

In the next sections, we’ll answer what brainstorming is, share effective brainstorming techniques, including how to brainstorm business ideas, and show you how QuillBot’s AI idea generator can transform scattered thoughts into a set of strong, well-defined ideas.

Brainstorming techniques

Brainstorming sits at the heart of problem-solving in business, academics, and professional planning. Whether done solo or with a team, the process is similar: generate as many ideas as possible without worrying about perfection, then discuss, refine, and narrow them down to the most promising options.

Here are three effective brainstorming techniques to consider:

1. Hybrid brainstorming

Start by letting participants think on their own and jot down ideas separately; this can happen over email, shared documents, or any asynchronous format. Once everyone has had time to reflect, bring the group together to discuss the ideas and vote on the most promising ones. This method shields your team from groupthink while also giving everyone space to think.

2. Six thinking hats

This method has participants “wear” six metaphorical hats representing different types of thinking: facts, risks, benefits, creativity, emotions, and process control. The key is that everyone wears the same hat at the same time, so instead of some people being negative while others are positive, the whole group explores one perspective together before moving to the next.

3. Mind mapping

Start with your main topic in the center of a page, then draw branches out to related ideas, and keep branching from there. Organizing ideas visually helps you see connections you might miss in a regular list. This works particularly well for broad or complex topics.

Using these approaches can help you expand your thinking, explore ideas from different angles, and identify the most promising ones before moving forward.

Using an AI idea generator

An AI idea generator can speed up brainstorming, help you explore angles you might not have considered, and complement the techniques we just covered. Here’s how it works in three simple steps:

1. Share your topic

Start by entering your topic and providing some details about your goal or project in the chatbox. The more context you give, the more tailored the suggestions will be. For example, here’s how you could use QuillBot’s AI idea generator to brainstorm business ideas: “New social media campaign ideas for a clothes swapping platform.”

2. Tweak your results

If the initial ideas aren’t quite what you need, provide additional guidance or context to refine them. You can clarify your audience, tone, or any constraints, allowing the AI idea generator to provide suggestions that better match your needs.

3. Review your suggestions

Once you’re happy with the results, copy the suggestions and adapt them as needed. You can immediately share them with your team, integrate them into your planning, or use them as inspiration for further brainstorming.

Here’s what QuillBot’s AI idea generator came up with:

By combining structured brainstorming techniques with AI-powered suggestions, you can approach challenges from fresh perspectives and uncover opportunities that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Frequently asked questions about idea generator

What is brainstorming?

Brainstorming is a method for generating ideas and exploring solutions to a problem, either individually or in a group. The goal is to think freely, without judging or filtering ideas at first, and then refine the most promising ones through discussion and evaluation. It’s a flexible technique used in business, academics, and creative projects to encourage fresh perspectives and innovation.

Looking to put brainstorming into action? Try QuillBot’s AI idea generator to quickly explore ideas and develop strong, well-defined concepts.

How can you brainstorm business ideas?

To brainstorm business ideas, start by clearly defining your goal or problem. Generate as many ideas as possible without judgment, then organize, evaluate, and refine them to identify the most promising options. You can use techniques like hybrid brainstorming, mind mapping, or the Six Thinking Hats to structure the process and explore different perspectives.

Need a head start? QuillBot’s AI idea generator can give you fresh suggestions to inspire your next business idea.