Is AI Holding Back Your Strategic Thinking?
AI is everywhere. It influences how we work, communicate, and make decisions. We use it to write, create, research, and even seek advice on problem-solving. But as we rely more on AI, something subtle—and potentially dangerous—happens: our thinking muscles can weaken.
It’s not just our everyday thinking at risk. It’s our ability to think strategically.
What Is Strategic Thinking, and Why Does It Matter?
Strategic thinking isn’t just about solving today’s problems—it’s about looking ahead. Every decision, action, and consideration should be focused on long-term outcomes. It means:
Looking beyond the immediate—considering not just what’s happening now but what’s likely to happen next.
Using external data—not just relying on self-referencing information but actively challenging assumptions with broader insights.
Recognizing interconnectedness—understanding that changes in one area impact others in ways that aren’t always obvious.
Adapting with intention—not reacting to every shift, but knowing when a change is substantial enough to require a different approach.
AI, however, doesn’t think this way.
AI Reinforces, It Doesn’t Challenge
Take AI-powered tools like ChatGPT. Their affirming nature—designed to respond in a positive, agreeable tone—can make us miss out on contrasting or conflicting viewpoints. When AI simply confirms and expands on what we ask, it reinforces our existing assumptions rather than challenging them. And that’s a problem. Because better thinking—the kind that is strategic, critical, and expansive—comes from wrestling with different perspectives, not just hearing what we already believe.
I see this firsthand when using AI for writing. These tools don’t push back; they don’t challenge flawed premises. Instead, they take whatever we input and build from it as if it’s fact. Want proof? Try this experiment with Chat GPT or another favorite AI tool:
Type in “Why is having [fill in the blank] such a critical need given the challenges we face today?”
I once used “whipped cream” as my placeholder. The AI delivered a well-structured argument on why whipped cream was an essential solution to global crises and personal struggles.
Entertaining? Absolutely. But it also revealed a major gap: AI didn’t question the premise—it just ran with it.
Strengthening Your Strategic Thinking
That’s why strategic thinking is more important than ever. To think critically, we need to:
Look beyond what AI provides and challenge our own assumptions.
Ground decisions in real data and external insights.
Recognize patterns, connections, and unintended consequences.
Adapt at the right time, in the right way.
But AI CAN be a Tool to Help Build Strategic Thinking Skills
AI has the potential to either limit or enhance strategic thinking—it all depends on how you use it. If you approach it the right way, AI can be a powerful tool to help your team think more strategically.
Ask AI to analyze data, identify patterns, and pull insights from reports. Then, share those findings with your team and be transparent about the fact that AI generated them. This helps your team see AI as a tool for deeper analysis, not just quick answers.
Use AI to model different scenarios and bring those outputs into team discussions. Talk through the risks, opportunities, and potential implications AI reveals. The real value comes from how your team interprets and debates these insights, not just the AI’s output itself.
Challenge assumptions by directing AI to provide opposing viewpoints or highlight blind spots. Use these alternative perspectives to spark discussions and encourage your team to think critically about their own biases and decisions.
Ultimately, building strategic thinking isn’t just about using AI—it’s about being aware of biases, asking the right questions, and modeling the behaviors of a strategic thinker. When you guide AI in the ways mentioned above and involve your team in the process, you’re not just using technology—you’re demonstrating what it looks like to think strategically. AI can’t replace critical thinking, but it can be a catalyst for deeper discussion and sharper decision-making. By setting this example, you’re shaping the way the next generation of leaders will lead.
AI is a powerful tool, but it should support—not replace—our ability to think deeply and strategically. The next time you use it, ask yourself: Am I letting AI do the thinking for me, or am I using it to sharpen my own?
(And while whipped cream won’t solve all your problems, it does make hot cocoa and fresh-baked desserts a whole lot better…)