Reinventing Visual Thinking Tools with Generative AI

In this forward-looking session, Philippe Boukobza explores how generative AI is transforming the landscape of visual thinking. Through live demos of tools like XMind Copilot, Canva, and Adobe Firefly, he demonstrates how AI is already being integrated into mind mapping, presentation software, whiteboards, and graphic design platforms. He offers a candid look at the potential, the pitfalls, and the critical importance of maintaining human creativity amid rapid technological acceleration. Timestamped Themes & Topics [00:00:02] – Welcome & Context Introduction to the Biggerplate Visual Toolkit event and Philippe's reputation in visual thinking. [00:02:29] – Structure & Philosophy of the Session Overview of the session outline and personal approach: creating the presentation without using AI to emphasize analog thinking. [00:04:53] – What is Generative AI? Explanation of how AI produces images, text, code, and sound based on user prompts; brief mention of key tools like ChatGPT, MidJourney, and DALL·E. [00:06:02] – Early AI Use Cases in Design Example of a designer using AI (MidJourney) to prototype redesigns for public libraries. [00:07:09] – Live Demo: Lexica & MidJourney Demonstration of prompt-based image generation using Lexica and MidJourney; early glimpses of AI’s visual realism. [00:10:28] – Generative AI Hype & Acceleration The viral Pope image, speed of ChatGPT adoption, and the open letter calling for a pause in AI development. [00:13:07] – Mind Mapping with AI: XMind Copilot (Live Demo) Creating an article outline using a ChatGPT-powered XMind beta feature; auto-generating text from mind maps in real-time. [00:17:44] – Mind Mapping with AI: GitMind (Live Demo) Demonstration of GitMind’s AI tool generating a full mind map from a text prompt. [00:20:11] – Presentation Tools with AI: PowerPoint Copilot & Canva Video preview of Microsoft Copilot in PowerPoint, followed by a live walkthrough of Canva’s Magic Design, Magic Write, and AI translation features. [00:26:38] – Future Visual Thinking Scenarios Discussion of emerging use cases: • Mind map ? Article • Mind map ? Presentation • Voice ? Mind map • Mind map ? Animated explainer video • Auto-translation of visual content [00:30:09] – Whiteboards with AI: Freehand AI (Video Demo) Summary tools, brief generators, task boards from brainstorming sessions, and sentiment analysis via AI on whiteboards. [00:33:35] – Adobe Firefly Overview Adobe’s new AI tool to generate, edit, and localize images within Photoshop and other Adobe platforms; soon available in Google search. [00:34:52] – Canva AI Features in Graphic Design AI-powered image editing (Magic Edit), prompt-based visual replacement (e.g., changing a face to a clown), and other real-time design tweaks. [00:37:08] – AI's Impact on Software Development & Content Explosion Generative AI’s role in accelerating software creation; prediction of a visual content tsunami. [00:38:18] – Conclusions We're entering a new AI-driven era Divide between software that adopts AI vs. those that don’t Intellectual property and AI: unresolved legal and ethical questions Protecting the human ability to think creatively without AI [00:42:19] – Shared Resource: Mind Map with All Links Philippe shares a QR code linking to a mind map of tools, articles, and demos used during the session. [00:43:09] – Q&A Highlights Topics covered: • Access to XMind Copilot beta • AI’s role in enhancing vs. replacing creativity • How tools can reflect individual storytelling styles • Will AI create noise or value? • Personalized AI assistants • Future of mind mapping tools without AI • Content copyright and public knowledge • Risk of over-reliance and thinking erosion