Exercise 4: Prompts for Thinking
Most people use AI to get things done. But some of the most interesting uses have nothing to do with productivity — they're about seeing the world a little differently, or giving yourself something worth talking about.
The prompts in the Prompts for Thinking section are designed for exactly that. Pick one, try it, and bring what it gives you to the dinner table, a book club, a long drive, or a conversation with a grandchild. They tend to generate more interesting discussion than most things on the news.
Try one right now
This is a good place to start. It takes something you believe — something you'd probably defend in an argument — and asks AI to make the strongest possible case against it. Not a weak objection. The most compelling one it can find.
You don't have to change your mind. The goal is to understand exactly why a thoughtful person might see it differently.
Prompt
I believe [belief]. Please make the strongest possible case against this position — not the easy objections, but the most compelling and thoughtful argument for the opposite view.
This is a great dinner table exercise. Try it with your own belief, read the response out loud, and see what the people around you think. You don't have to agree with the AI — but you might find the argument harder to dismiss than you expected.
Explore all three sections
There are over 20 prompts across three sections, each with a different angle. Browse them and find one that catches your eye.
Why this kind of prompting matters
There's a version of AI that's purely a tool — something you use to get something done and then close. That's useful. But there's another version that's more like a sparring partner: something that pushes back, offers a perspective you hadn't considered, or asks a question you can't easily answer.
The prompts in this section are designed for that second use. They're good for:
- Starting a real conversation — with family, friends, or a book club
- Getting out of your own head — when you've been thinking about something from only one angle
- Understanding people you disagree with — not to agree with them, but to understand how they got there
- Passing the time productively — on a flight, a train, or a quiet evening at home
None of these prompts have right answers. That's the point.