How to Use AI for Smarter Research & Creative Ideas
⏱ 8 hoursAI can find you an answer in seconds. It can also hand you a confident, polished answer that's wrong. This self-paced class gives you a system for using AI to research faster, think more clearly, and create content that isn't generic — without putting your name on things you haven't checked. You carry one real topic through four Modules: a verified research brief, insight statements, one sharp content idea, and a first draft. You finish with your own Research-to-Content Playbook, checked by an AI Capstone Evaluator, and the AI Research & Ideation Practitioner badge.
What you’ll learn
Turn a fuzzy topic into a sharp research question and use AI to find sources fast Verify the claims that matter with source tiers, lateral reading, and citation checks Turn verified facts into insight statements with clear implications using the So-What Ladder Get past AI's generic first ideas and pick one idea worth your name with the 3F Idea Filter Turn your idea into a first draft that is true, sharp, and sounds like you Assemble your own Research-to-Content Playbook and earn the AI Research & Ideation Practitioner badge
Who this course is for
Small business owners, solo operators, consultants, and content creators who already use AI casually and want a disciplined way to research, think, and create with it.
Before you begin
None. You should have used an AI chat tool at least a few times.
Course curriculum
- Get Started
Orientation: how this class works and how to use it.
- Get Started
- Course Book
The full self-guided Course Book for this class.
- Course Book
- Module 1: Research Faster, Verify Smarter
Use AI to find what's out there in minutes, then check what matters before you put your name on it.
- Research Faster, Verify Smarter
- AI Tool — Research Brief Builder
- Module 1 — Knowledge Check
- Research Faster, Verify Smarter — Workbook Reflection
- Module 2: Turn Research into Insight
Climb from verified facts to insights your audience hasn't heard — and know exactly what they should do next.
- Turn Research into Insight
- AI Tool — Insight Synthesizer
- Module 2 — Knowledge Check
- Turn Research into Insight — Workbook Reflection
- Module 3: Ideas That Aren't Generic
Go wide with AI, then narrow with judgment — and walk out with one idea only you could have written.
- Ideas That Aren't Generic
- AI Tool — Idea Spark Partner
- Module 3 — Knowledge Check
- Ideas That Aren't Generic — Workbook Reflection
- Module 4: From Idea to First Draft
Turn your chosen idea into a first draft that is true, sharp and yours, then assemble your Playbook.
- From Idea to First Draft
- AI Tool — Capstone Evaluator
- Module 4 — Knowledge Check
- From Idea to First Draft — Workbook Reflection
- Course Materials & Capstone
Workbook and Capstone materials.
- Workbook
- Course Wrap-Up
Course conclusion: what you built, where you go next, and the glossary.
- Course Conclusion