Looking for a way to spark truly creative ideas from AI? A new two-stage technique could help move beyond predictable suggestions. By first requesting a large “dump” of ideas and then refining for diversity, you can guide AI toward unique results—whether you’re naming a coffee shop, a podcast, or your next big project.
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Generative AI
I asked ChatGPT for 100 ideas. The best ones came later
Photo by Pcworld
Key Takeaways:
- Generating 100 ideas at once helps uncover unexpected and unique possibilities
- Research from Wharton suggests creative ideas often come later in large lists
- Tweaking the AI prompt a second time refines your list for maximum diversity
- Trying this method on a coffee shop name produced out-of-the-box options
- This technique can boost your creativity for any naming or brainstorming task
Why We Need Many Ideas
One of the main challenges in brainstorming with AI is navigating through mundane or repetitive suggestions. Large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini can easily provide multiple options, but those initial results often feel familiar or uninspired. By asking for 100—or even more—suggestions, you increase the odds of stumbling upon creative gems that might otherwise be missed.
The Wharton Insight
A study backed by Wharton School research suggests that quantity can help unlock quality when generating lists of ideas. In essence, the deeper into the list you go, the more likely you are to find surprising or imaginative entries. This insight guides the concept of asking for an extensive set of names or ideas before filtering for the best.
Stage One: The ‘Dump’
To follow this approach, begin by directing your AI model of choice to provide 100 ideas without holding back. Ask for short, punchy names or titles—no lengthy explanations, no judging of quality. Include “the bad, the weird, and half-baked fragments” as raw material. This initial stage acts as your broad net, capturing every possible angle.
Stage Two: The ‘Refine’
Once you have your diverse list of 100, prompt the AI again. This time, ask it to eliminate ideas that follow the same underlying concept and replace them with new, unique suggestions. By focusing on removing duplicates or near-duplicates, you refine your results, ensuring that the new list is vibrant and wide-ranging.
A Coffee Shop Name Example
When trying to name a future coffee shop, the first 10 ideas ChatGPT produced included typical names like “The Daily Grind,” “Brewed Awakening,” and “Central Perk.” These were quickly recognizable from popular culture and common coffee-shop jargon. However, after applying the second-stage prompt and then selecting the most intriguing suggestions, results like “Warm Noise,” “Localhost,” “Borrowed Sugar,” and “Blue Hour” emerged—fresh, distinct, and undeniably more creative.
Carrying Creativity Forward
Whether you’re naming a business, brainstorming for a blog, or simply looking for a spark of inspiration, this two-stage “dump and refine” method can help. Even if the final name you choose doesn’t appear word-for-word in the AI’s output, sifting through 100 possibilities and refining them can stimulate your own creative process. Give it a try—the best ideas might just be waiting at the bottom of the list.
