Supercharge Your Brainstorming with AI Subject Matter Experts

I've been experimenting with a new way to break through creative blocks, giving me another way to approach problem-solving. Instead of staring at a blank page or trying to force ideas, I've started running virtual brainstorming sessions with AI-powered subject matter experts. Here's what I've learned.

The Problem with Traditional Brainstorming

We've all been there—stuck in our own heads trying to solve a complex problem. Even group brainstorming can fall flat when you miss vital perspectives or expertise. I was working on improving some product onboarding recently and knew I needed input from multiple angles, but getting all those experts in a room wasn't possible.

Enter Virtual Expert Panels

So, I assembled a virtual team. I started creating panels of subject matter experts using AI. Here's a real example from that onboarding project:

I set up a virtual roundtable with the following:

  • A UX researcher focused on first-time user behavior
  • A technical product manager with SaaS onboarding experience
  • A behavioral psychologist specializing in learning patterns
  • A customer support lead who deals with everyday user struggles
  • An accessibility expert focused on inclusive design

The key is being specific about each expert's background and perspective. For example, for the UX researcher, I specified:

Approach this as a UX researcher with:

* 10+ years studying first-time user behavior

* Experience with both B2B and B2C products

* Focus on qualitative user insights

* Strong emphasis on measuring success metrics.

Real Results

Here's how different experts approached the onboarding challenge:

The UX researcher dove into user journey mapping: "Let's break down the cognitive load at each step. Where are users hesitating? What questions arise? We should be measuring time-to-value at each milestone."

The product manager brought practical constraints: "Consider implementation complexity versus impact. What's the minimum effective onboarding that still drives core feature adoption?"

The psychologist highlighted learning patterns: "We must balance cognitive load with confidence building. Each successful action should reinforce the user's decision to invest time in learning."

The support lead grounded us in reality: "These are the top three points where users typically get stuck. Any solution needs to address these specific friction points."

The accessibility expert expanded our thinking: "How does this experience translate across different devices, assistive technologies, and user capabilities?"

Each perspective added depth I wouldn't have considered alone, and their interaction led to even better insights.

Making This Work For You

Here's how to run your own expert panel:

  1. Define Your Expert Mix
  2. Create Clear Contexts
  3. Guide the Discussion
  4. Extract Actionable Insights

Want to Try This?

Start with a current challenge you're facing. What 3-5 experts would bring valuable perspectives? Think about:

  • Technical requirements
  • User needs
  • Business constraints
  • Industry context
  • Implementation realities

What expert panel would you assemble for your current biggest challenge? Share your dream team lineup in the comments.