They’re exceptionally good at divergent thinking, which is useful when brainstorming, weighing up options, or thinking outside the box. AI can help us to think more openly and creatively beyond our usual, routine thought patterns or mental models. A simple example is giving an AI model random ingredients in your cupboard to create a dinner recipe.
A way to test this kind of thinking is the ‘alternative uses test’, in which participants are asked to develop as many novel ways to use an everyday object as possible within a set time frame. The number of ideas, originality, flexibility (how many domains or categories you can use the object in), and details that participants provide are then scored to determine how good the subject is at developing alternative uses for objects. For example, when asked to come up with as many new ways as possible to use a brick, you may start with its intended purpose (construction), then as a bedframe, hammer, or plate, demonstrating the ability to think up alternative uses.
In a study exploring how AI stacks up against humans in this test, AI has been shown to outperform humans 91% of the time at this kind of thinking, coming up with more original and flexible ideas at greater volume.
This creative and flexible thinking is essential to overcome some of society’s biggest problems. Thinking creatively and resourcefully like this is how we can tackle complex issues like climate change, access to justice, or healthcare with fresh perspectives. Collaborating with AI in this way not only enhances our own creative capacities but also accelerates the discovery of innovative solutions. By leveraging AI’s ability to generate diverse and unconventional ideas, we can unlock innovative solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible.