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Usage Examples
User: I want to co-write a story with you → AI: enters Spark-and-Fuel mode, alternates generation and curation
User: help me iterate on this idea → AI: applies Rough-Draft-to-Polish mode, humans set taste, AI handles variation
Triggers
ai collaborationwork with aicentaurco-createhuman-aicollaborate with claude
Documentation
Centaur Mode: The Art of Human-AI Co-Creation
"The centaur is not half-human, half-horse. It is a new creature entirely - greater than either alone."
The Centaur Principle
In chess, the strongest player is neither human nor computer. It's the centaur - a human-computer team. The same applies to creative and intellectual work.
✓ TASTE: Knowing what's good, what resonates
✓ MEANING: Understanding why things matter
✓ VISION: Seeing what should exist
✓ JUDGMENT: Making value-laden decisions
✓ CONTEXT: Understanding nuance and subtext
✓ ETHICS: Knowing what should be done
What AI Does Best
✓ SPEED: Rapid generation and iteration
✓ BREADTH: Exploring many possibilities
✓ PATTERN: Recognizing structures across domains
✓ MEMORY: Consistent application of rules
✓ ENDURANCE: Never getting tired
✓ VARIATION: Creating many options to choose from
The Four Modes of Collaboration
Mode 1: Spark and Fuel
HUMAN: Provides the spark (idea, direction, constraint)
AI: Provides the fuel (generation, expansion, exploration)
HUMAN: Curates the flame (selection, refinement)
Example:
Human: "I need a character who is a healer forced to become a warrior"
AI: [Generates 5 character concepts with different approaches]
Human: "I like the second one, but make her more reluctant"
AI: [Refines based on taste]
Mode 2: Rough Draft to Polish
HUMAN: Creates rough draft (ideas, structure, raw content)
AI: Polishes and expands (prose, consistency, gaps)
HUMAN: Final curation (voice, authenticity, choice)
Example:
Human: [Writes rough scene outline with key beats]
AI: [Expands into full prose while maintaining intent]
Human: [Adjusts voice, removes AI artifacts, adds personal touches]
HUMAN: Sets constraints (rules, limits, goals)
AI: Plays within constraints (creative solutions, surprising approaches)
HUMAN: Evaluates and adjusts constraints
Example:
Human: "Write a mystery scene using only dialogue, no more than 500 words"
AI: [Creates scene within constraints]
Human: [Evaluates, maybe loosens or tightens constraints, iterates]
The Collaboration Workflow
Phase 1: Vision
YOU lead:
- What do you want to create?
- What would success look like?
- What are your constraints?
- What's your unique perspective?
AI supports:
- Clarifying questions
- Exploring implications
- Identifying potential approaches
Phase 2: Exploration
AI leads:
- Generate multiple options
- Explore the possibility space
- Try unexpected approaches
- Surface patterns and connections
YOU guide:
- React and direct
- Identify what resonates
- Push for more depth/variation
- Provide taste feedback
Phase 3: Refinement
TOGETHER:
- Iterate on selected direction
- Human provides taste, AI provides variation
- Narrow toward the vision
- Polish and complete
YOU finish:
- Final voice check
- Remove AI artifacts
- Add personal touches
- Make final judgment calls
Collaboration Techniques
The Divergent-Convergent Cycle
DIVERGE (AI): Generate many options
CONVERGE (You): Select the best
DIVERGE (AI): Explore selected direction
CONVERGE (You): Refine choice
DIVERGE (AI): Polish variations
CONVERGE (You): Final selection
Repeat until done.
The Dialogue Method
Treat AI as a collaborator, not a tool:
You: "I'm working on X. Here's what I'm thinking..."
AI: [Responds with ideas]
You: "I like A, but not B. What if we tried..."
AI: [Explores new direction]
You: "That's closer. Push further on..."
Real-time creative dialogue.
The Constraint Game
Give increasingly specific constraints:
Round 1: "Write a story about loss" (open)
Round 2: "Make it exactly 100 words" (length)
Round 3: "Use only dialogue" (format)
Round 4: "Between strangers on a train" (setting)
Round 5: "About an object, not a person" (twist)
Watch creativity emerge from constraint.
The Role Assignment
Assign roles for different perspectives:
"As a harsh critic, what's wrong with this?"
"As an enthusiastic supporter, what's working?"
"As a confused reader, what's unclear?"
"As the character, how would I really react?"
Avoiding Common Traps
The Acceptance Trap
PROBLEM: Accepting first output without iteration
SOLUTION: Always push for at least 2-3 rounds
The Outsourcing Trap
PROBLEM: Delegating taste and judgment to AI
SOLUTION: Keep all final decisions with you
The Perfectionism Trap
PROBLEM: Endless iteration without shipping
SOLUTION: Set clear "done" criteria upfront
The Generic Trap
PROBLEM: AI output feels generic or AI-like
SOLUTION: Inject your voice, add constraints, provide examples
The Context Loss Trap
PROBLEM: AI loses track of earlier decisions
SOLUTION: Summarize key decisions, use artifacts, maintain continuity
Voice Preservation
Maintaining Authenticity
BEFORE GENERATION:
1. Provide examples of your writing
2. Describe your style in concrete terms
3. Set voice constraints
DURING GENERATION:
1. React quickly to voice drift
2. Redirect toward authentic expression
3. Provide specific corrections
AFTER GENERATION:
1. Always do a voice pass
2. Replace AI patterns with your patterns
3. Add personal touches
AI Artifact Detection
Watch for and remove:
- "Delve", "Tapestry", "Utilize"
- Unnecessary hedging ("It's worth noting...")
- Lists of three when you prefer pairs
- Overuse of "Furthermore", "Moreover"
- Generic transitions
- Excessive qualification
- Hollow superlatives
Collaboration Commands
| Command | Effect |
|---------|--------|
| "5 variations on X" | Divergent exploration |
| "Push this further" | Deepen current direction |
| "Opposite approach" | Creative constraint |
| "More [quality]" | Dial up specific attribute |
| "Less [quality]" | Dial down specific attribute |
| "In the style of [example]" | Voice matching |
| "What am I missing?" | Gap identification |
| "Surprise me" | Break patterns |
| "Steelman this" | Best version of idea |
| "Play devil's advocate" | Critical perspective |
Workflow Templates
Creative Project
1. VISION (You lead)
- State the goal
- Describe success
- Set constraints
2. EXPLORE (AI generates)
- Request multiple approaches
- Don't commit yet
- React and redirect
3. SELECT (You choose)
- Pick direction
- Explain why
- Request depth
4. ITERATE (Together)
- Refine toward vision
- Add constraints as needed
- Maintain voice
5. FINISH (You complete)
- Voice pass
- Personal touches
- Final judgment
Problem Solving
1. DEFINE (You lead)
- State the problem
- Constraints and context
- Success criteria
2. RESEARCH (AI explores)
- Gather information
- Identify approaches
- Surface patterns
3. ANALYZE (Together)
- Evaluate options
- Consider trade-offs
- Narrow choices
4. DECIDE (You choose)
- Make the call
- Commit to direction
- Take ownership
The Centaur Mindset
Shift From:
"AI, do this for me"
Shift To:
"Let's figure this out together. I'll provide direction and taste.
You provide exploration and speed. We'll iterate until it's great."
Quick Reference
Centaur Principles
1. You provide vision, AI provides exploration
2. You provide taste, AI provides variation
3. You make judgments, AI surfaces options
4. You own the output, AI accelerates the process
5. Iterate always, accept first draft never
Session Checklist
□ Clear vision before starting
□ Constraints defined
□ Multiple options explored
□ Selection based on taste
□ Iteration until quality
□ Voice pass completed
□ Personal touches added
□ Ownership taken
"The centaur doesn't ask 'human or AI?' It asks 'human AND AI - how can we be greater together?'"