How to Use AI for Brainstorming Without Getting Generic Ideas
Updated 2026-08-06 \u00b7 4 min read
TL;DR
The first batch of AI-generated ideas is usually the most predictable one. Asking for a larger batch and explicitly excluding the obvious options tends to surface more original ideas further down the list.
Why the first ideas feel generic
AI models default toward the most statistically common answer first, which is often the same idea most people would think of anyway.
Ask for more than you need
Requesting 15 to 20 ideas instead of 5 pushes the AI past its most obvious defaults into more unusual territory.
Explicitly rule out the obvious
Naming the ideas you already expect and asking the AI to avoid them forces genuinely different suggestions.
Combine with the fundamentals
This works best paired with the core techniques in the prompt engineering guide.
Frequently asked questions
Should I brainstorm alone with AI or with a team plus AI?
Using AI to generate a wide starting pool, then having a team react and build on the best ones, tends to work better than either alone.
How many rounds of AI brainstorming are useful?
Two to three rounds, narrowing each time, usually gets past the generic first pass without excessive back and forth.
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