AI as a Contrarian Thought Partner

In this inspiring session from the Artificial Unintelligence Conference 2025, Christina (CJ) Jones (Head of Design for GenAI at Canva) explores how designers can move beyond using AI as a mere tool — and instead treat it as a creative collaborator.

CJ unpacks what it means to work with AI as a “thought partner,” one that can challenge assumptions, offer contrarian perspectives, and push creative boundaries. Through real-world examples, she shows how human-AI collaboration is transforming the creative process — turning brainstorming into dialogue and design into co-creation.

Key themes include:

How AI can act as a contrarian collaborator, not just a design assistant

Using AI to accelerate brainstorming and creative iteration

Treating human-AI collaboration as dialogue, not delegation

How AI is redefining what it means to be a designer

Balancing creative control with openness to machine-driven ideas