In the Age of AI: The Art of Questioning Becomes More Crucial than Ever for Innovators

After 20 years of experience in Innovation, it has long been clear to me that a key factor in finding novel solutions to any challenge is to start by gaining a new perspective on the problem. The best way to find new answers is to first seek new questions. Questions have always been the master key to unlocking new perspectives.

As Jorge Wagensberg said, “A new idea is evolution, a new question is revolution.”

It seems obvious, but we continue to see many companies rushing directly into solution mode. They believe they understand their problem well and think there is no need to “waste” time pondering it further. They know their problem too well, and that’s exactly why the Reframe the Problem phase is so important if they wish to avoid the same old solutions.
In all innovation projects, we try to convince our clients to dedicate some time to this (it doesn’t take that much).

If this step has always been crucial, with AI it will become even more so.

The quality of the answers we obtain from AI is directly linked to the quality of the questions (prompts) we pose.

Practicing the art of formulating precise and creative questions, what at Inteligencia Creativa we call “Innovative Prompt Engineering”, not only guides AI towards more innovative answers but also broadens our own view of the challenges.

The art of crafting questions for AI is like programming it to think outside the box. This is not about asking AI what AI think we want to know, but challenging it—and by extension, ourselves—to explore uncharted territories. Effective questions can transform AI from a simple tool for generating responses to an active participant in the creative process, capable of unveiling insights that would otherwise remain obscured. It suggests a future where innovation teams are not just tasked with finding answers but are also trained in the sophisticated art of asking questions that ignite the transformative potential of AI.

Incorporating systematic questioning (without and with AI) into talent development, particularly for those engaged in innovation, can foster an environment where curiosity is nurtured, and breakthroughs are more frequent. The intersection of human creativity and AI’s computational power, guided by insightful questioning, can mark the dawn of a new era in innovation.