AI, my mental sparring partner

AI isn’t just a tool I use—it’s my go-to mental sparring partner. It’s the thing I turn to when I’m stuck, need a fresh angle, or just want to stress-test an idea. Honestly, I think this might be one of the most underrated ways to use AI.

What does a sparring partner do?

A sparring partner challenges you—just like in boxing. It doesn’t hold back punches, forcing you to stay sharp, anticipate moves, and defend your stance. That’s exactly what AI does for me. It’s like stepping into the ring with an endless lineup of experts who push me to think harder, react faster, and keep improving my ideas.

How AI helps me think better

1. It Challenges My Assumptions
   I’ll ask AI something like, “What’s the biggest flaw in this idea?” and it’ll throw back insights I hadn’t even considered. It’s great for poking holes in my logic before anyone else gets the chance.

2. It Gives Me Different Perspectives
   I love making AI take on different roles. I’ll say, “Pretend you’re a growth marketer who’s seen this fail 100 times. What’s wrong here?” or “You’re a UX designer—what’s too complicated about this?” It’s like having an imaginary panel of experts on call. It reminds me of Edward de Bono’s 'Six Thinking Hats' method. AI can simulate each hat—logic, emotion, optimism, caution, creativity, and process management—helping me explore problems from every angle and uncover ideas I might never have thought of on my own.

3. It Helps Me Play ‘What If?’
   AI is awesome for running scenarios. I’ll ask, “What if this happened instead?” or “How would this decision play out in a year?” It’s a great way to explore possibilities I might overlook.

4. It Breaks Me Out of Ruts
   Sometimes I get stuck, and AI is the creative jumpstart I need. It throws out ideas, reframes problems, and gets my brain moving again.

5. It Helps Me Change Perspectives Like in Math and Abstract non-sens Methods
   AI forces me to switch frames of reference, much like in mathematics or abstract non-sense methods. In math, we sometimes push concepts to absurd extremes or simplify them to bare essentials to reveal hidden truths. AI helps me do the same—shifting perspectives, testing the limits of ideas, and uncovering insights that might initially seem illogical but ultimately lead to breakthroughs.

Real examples

• Product Development: I’ve asked AI to play devil’s advocate on new features I’m thinking about, and it’s saved me from bad ideas more than once.

• Marketing Campaigns: AI helps me test messages from different angles to make sure they hit the mark.

• Strategy Planning: I’ve used it to model market disruptions and imagine how competitors might react.

• Change Management: AI has been invaluable in helping me anticipate resistance to change, craft targeted communication strategies, and model the impact of different approaches. It allows me to simulate scenarios, test messaging, and refine implementation plans to ensure smoother transitions and better adoption.

Why it works for me

What I love most about AI is that it’s never afraid to be blunt. It doesn’t care about my feelings, and that’s exactly what I need when I’m brainstorming or troubleshooting. But it’s not just about the AI—it’s about how I use it. At the end of the day, it’s my judgment that decides what’s worth pursuing.

Final thoughts

For me, AI isn’t just a tool; it’s part of my process. It challenges me, inspires me, and pushes me to think harder. If you’re not using AI this way yet, I think you’re missing out.

What about you? How do you use AI to sharpen your thinking? Let me know in the comments!