How to Augment Your Thinking with AI

The maximum benefit from AI doesn’t come using it to mindlessly solve your problems, it comes from intentional integration that combines your human intelligence (creativity, judgement, ethics, intuition) with AI’s capabilities (information processing, pattern recognition, and generation).

Developing an "augmented thinking practice" involves:

1. Identifying specific cognitive tasks where AI collaboration could potentially add value.

2. Designing a customized workflow for the scenario.

3. Establishing a system of habits that incorporate AI assistance in a strategic way.

Some examples of “Augmented Thinking Systems” that I’ve come up with is:

Creating a “Perspective Matrix”

Process:

1. Identify a topic you’re interested in or a big decision you’re thinking about making

2. Ask AI to help generate a matrix of 4-6 different perspectives (e.g., economic, ethical, technological, historical)

3. For each perspective, use AI to develop key questions and considerations

4. Independently assess each perspective before synthesizing your own personal view

Best for: Complex topics requiring multidimensional analysis, writing, essays, debates

Defining Knowledge Gaps

Process:

1. After forming your initial opinion or approach to a problem, ask AI to identify potential unstated assumptions and unaware knowledge gaps in your thinking

2. For each assumption, explore alternative possibilities

3. Redesign your approach with the blind spots AI addressed

Best for: Critical thinking development, avoiding personal bias

Progressive Iteration

Process:

1. Create a first draft or concept by yourself

2. Ask AI for specific, targeted feedback on one aspect only

3. Revise based on feedback

4. Repeat with a different aspect each time

Best for: Content creation, writing projects, design work

Knowledge Scaffolding

Process:

1. Before studying a new topic, ask AI to create a “knowledge scaffold”: key concepts, relationships, and learning sequence

2. Study by yourself using this framework

3. Return to AI with specific questions about connections or gaps

Best for: Learning new subjects, preparing for tests, building comprehensive understanding

Deliberate Disagreeing

Process:

1. Develop your best thinking on a topic

2. Ask AI to generate the strongest possible counterarguments

3. Evaluate these counterarguments’ merit

4. Integrate valid criticisms into a stronger position

Best for: Concept creation, developing nuanced opinions, avoiding echo chambers, essay/content writing

Concept Mapping

Process:

1. Ask AI to help generate a concept map around a central idea

2. Use this map to identify unexpected connections or gaps

3. Explore the most promising connections in depth

Best for: Researching, connecting ideas across different domains (synthesizing)

Mental Warm Up

Process:

1. Before doing any kind of creative work, tell AI to ask you a small set of questions to spark creativity

2. Use the questions AI gives you to brainstorm new ideas to incorporate into your upcoming creative work or project

Best for: Creative work, deep work, building focus

The goal of doing this is to create a symbiotic relationship where AI handles information processing and pattern recognition tasks while the human mind focuses on judgment, values assessment, and creative insight—essentially building a cognitive partnership that enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them.

This is the 22nd installment in my project of publishing a mini essay every day to achieve 100 public pieces. Check out the full list here, and the previous letter here.

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