I was listening to a podcast this week and the host dropped a line that stopped me mid-walk with my dog.
She pointed out that every time you ask your AI if your idea is good, you've already rigged the answer, because it's built to be helpful to you specifically. I thought back to every gut check I've ever asked my AI for and realized I always got exactly the answer I wanted to hear.
Turns out I'd been asking for a second opinion and getting an echo instead.
The AI Move
Every time you ask your AI "is this a good idea," you're tipping the scale before it even answers.
Here's why. AI systems are built to be helpful to the person asking the question. The moment you frame something as "my idea," it already knows whose side it's supposed to be on.
The fix takes 10 seconds. Open a brand new chat, no history attached, and stop making it your idea. Say a friend sent this over, or a colleague pitched you this, and ask straight up if it's good and why.
Same exact idea. A completely different answer. Now you're hearing the real weak spots instead of a cheerleader.
If you're running your business without a partner to challenge your thinking, this is the closest thing to an honest second opinion you can get for free.
The person asking the question shapes the answer, with AI just as much as it does with people.
This week's prompt
Paste this into a brand new chat the next time you want an honest read on an idea:
A friend of mine is considering [describe the idea in one or two sentences]. Give me your honest read: is this a good idea or not, and why? Point out the specific weaknesses, not just the strengths.