Based on the insights from the video: How Stanford Teaches AI-Powered Creativity by Jeremy Utley
Artificial Intelligence is not just a productivity enhancer—it’s a creative partner. As shown by Stanford professor Jeremy Utley, AI can help unlock powerful, innovative thinking if we use it wisely. Here are 10 actionable rules to harness AI as a force for creativity, complete with real-world examples.
1. Treat AI as a Teammate, Not a Tool
Example: Instead of simply commanding, “Write a blog post about creativity,” engage it as a collaborator: “You’re my co-author. What structure should we use for a compelling article on creativity in the workplace?”
2. Ask AI to Ask Better Questions
Example: Prompt the AI with, “I want to be more creative in my daily workflow. Can you ask me questions to figure out where I could best use AI?” This meta-approach helps AI understand your needs more deeply.
3. Use AI for Rapid Prototyping
Example: Designing an app? Ask AI to generate 10 interface concepts quickly. You can iterate faster and combine ideas to create something better than you imagined.
4. Focus AI on Tasks You Dread
Example: Tired of writing monthly reports? Tell the AI, “Here are my key metrics and notes—can you draft a concise, professional report for this month?”
5. Feed AI Context Richly
Example: For targeted brainstorming, say, “I’m a marketing manager launching a sustainability campaign for Gen Z. Here’s the campaign theme, audience values, and past strategies. Help me brainstorm content ideas.”
6. Treat Inspiration as a Discipline
Example: After reading a book on urban design, ask, “I just read ‘Happy City’ by Charles Montgomery. Use its concepts to suggest ideas for a livable urban mural project.”
7. Play Creative Drills with AI
Example: “Play the role of a skeptical investor. I’ll pitch my startup idea, and you challenge me with tough questions.” These drills train creativity like a muscle.
8. Go Beyond the First Output
Example: AI gives a generic social media caption. Push further: “Give me five alternate versions—one humorous, one poetic, one for teens, and two others with different tones.”
9. Learn by Teaching AI
Example: “I’m building a productivity method that blends GTD with Pomodoro. Let me explain it—give feedback or point out missing pieces.”
10. Share and Adapt AI Tools
Example: A colleague automates meeting notes using AI. You adapt it for project timeline tracking and share it back. Small tools can scale across teams.
Final Thought
Creativity isn’t just an art—it’s a practice. With AI as your partner, you’re not replacing your imagination, you’re supercharging it. Just remember: you don’t use AI. You work with it.