A field guide to creative problem solving with AI

Think in tools.
Create with AI.

69 proven creative problem-solving techniques. Each one is taught in plain language, drawn as a clear visual and paired with a ready-to-run AI prompt that coaches you through it step by step.

69creative tools
5thinking stages
1:1an AI prompt for every tool
The creative problem-solving rhythm Two diamonds. The first explores and then defines the real problem. The second diverges into many ideas, then converges on the best one, followed by an arrow into implementation. Callouts show where AI expands options and where you decide. ✦ AI asks questions ✦ AI: +50 options You frame it You decide ✦ AI stress-tests Clarify the real problem? Ideate what could we do? Select what should we do? Implement
What is AICPS?

Creative problem solving, amplified.

Creative problem solving is a disciplined way to get from a messy challenge to a workable solution. It alternates two kinds of thinking: diverging, where you generate many options, and converging, where you choose wisely.

AI changes the economics of both. Options are now nearly free, so framing and judgment become the scarce skills. This site teaches both.

Proven methods

Techniques refined over seventy years of creativity research and practice, from Osborn's brainstorming to de Bono's Six Hats and Altshuller's TRIZ.

AI as a thinking partner

Language models generate, provoke, role-play and critique at a speed no workshop can match. Every tool here shows you how.

Human judgment at the center

You frame the problem, choose what matters and own the decision. The tools keep AI in its lane.

The human and AI creative loop: you frame, AI expands, you judge, AI challenges, and repeat. Human + AI repeat until it's good YouFrame AIExpand YouJudge AIChallenge
You: context, taste, decisionsAI: speed, variety, critique
The toolbox

The Periodic Table of Creative Problem Solving

Every tool is an element: color shows its stage, the icon shows whether it's best solo or in a team. Hover any tile to see what it does and the role AI plays in it, then click to open its full page and AI prompt.

What's going on?

Pick the situation that sounds like yours and the right tools light up.
Stage
People

Best solo Solo or team Best in a team
How every tool page works

Learn it. See it. Run it with AI.

Each tool page follows the same five beats, so once you've used one you can pick up any of the others in about ten minutes.

01

What

The tool in plain language, with a visual you can sketch on a whiteboard.

02

Why

The thinking science behind it, so you know when to use it and when not to.

03

How

Step-by-step instructions, facilitator tips and a fully worked example.

04

Go AI

What you do, what the AI does, and the moves that get the most out of it.

05

Your prompt

Fill in your challenge and copy a coaching prompt into any AI assistant.

Ground rules

Five rules for creating with AI

The tools work with or without AI. These rules make sure AI makes your thinking better, not lazier.

01

You own the problem. AI does the legwork.

AI can produce a hundred options in seconds. It can't know which one matters to your students, your team or your community. That judgment is your job.

“Use AI to widen the funnel. Never let it choose for you.”
02

Diverge first, converge later

Ask for quantity first and judge afterwards. Judging too early kills ideas, whether they come from people or from AI.

03

Context in, quality out

Generic prompts get generic ideas. Name the audience, the constraints and what you've already tried.

04

Make it argue with you

Ask AI to attack your favorite idea. A partner that never gets tired is also a critic that never gets tired.

05

Test small, test fast

Every tool ends in an experiment you can run this week, not a plan you'll never start.

Bring a real problem.
Leave with a plan.

Pick your situation, learn one tool in ten minutes, then let your AI coach you through it.