How to Stop Writing Alone and Start Thinking with AI

AI as Your Thought Partner: Crafting Powerful Explanations with the Help of Prompts

You know your idea is solid.
But when you explain it, it doesn’t land.
That’s the real challenge—not what you know, but how you make others get it.

You’ve done the work. You’ve solved the problem, written the code, and built the system. But now you’re stuck in front of a blank slide or doc, trying to explain it to someone who isn’t you.

This is where AI becomes more than a tool. It becomes a thought partner.

I use it almost every week. Not to write for me, but to think with me—especially when I’m explaining complex ideas to non-technical people.

Let me show you how.

1. Write prompts for them, not you

Most people utilize AI to streamline their tasks. But the best use is to make your explanation better, for your audience.

Here’s a prompt I rely on all the time:

“Give me 3 analogies to explain [concept] to [audience]. Use familiar ideas from their world. Make it visual and intuitive.”

This flips the perspective. You stop thinking about your knowledge and start thinking about their understanding.

Just last month, I was preparing to explain a migration from Adobe Managed Services to AEM Cloud to a VP of Finance. My first version was too technical. So I dropped the idea into ChatGPT with one change: I asked it to explain the shift using a finance analogy. Out came a metaphor about leasing vs. owning. It landed instantly.

2. Don’t delegate—collaborate

The first AI response is never perfect. That’s fine. Please don’t treat it like an answer machine. Treat it like a junior partner.

Give it feedback. Ask for variations.

“Make it simpler.”
“Use a food analogy.”
“Rewrite it in one sentence.”
“Which would resonate most with a PM, and why?”

This is where it gets fun. You’re not handing off the work. You’re sharpening your thinking through conversation.

When I teach this, I tell people: if you’re only using AI to get content, you’re missing the point. Use it to find clarity. Use it to find the right angle.

3. Adapt the message to the moment

Every audience is different. So is every format.

Sometimes you need a one-liner for a slide. Sometimes you need a story for a pitch. Sometimes you need a metaphor to calm an exec.

AI helps you try all those versions—fast.

One idea—such as event-driven architecture—can be illustrated with a doorbell, a restaurant kitchen, or a birthday surprise. You have to pick the one that fits the moment.

Final thought

AI doesn’t replace your voice. It reveals it. It helps you clarify, simplify, and connect.

Once you start treating it as a thought partner, your slides get clearer. Your meetings get tighter. Your audience finally understands what you’ve been trying to say.

And that’s when your ideas start to move.