Generate New Ideas or Visualize Existing Ones Automatically

SmartDraw AI lets you create mind maps using either natural language prompts or your own information. If you're still exploring a topic or looking for inspiration, start with a natural language prompt and let AI generate ideas for you. If you've already captured your thoughts in an outline or list, simply paste that information into the prompt and let SmartDraw organize it into a mind map.

Scenario 1: Generate a Mind Map for a Topic

If you're just getting started exploring a subject, planning a project, or brainstorming ideas, describe what you want using natural language and SmartDraw AI will generate a mind map for you.

Try these example prompts:

Create a mind map for launching a new coffee shop.

Brainstorm ideas for improving employee retention.

Generate a mind map about cybersecurity best practices for small businesses.

Create a mind map for planning a family vacation to Italy.

Build a mind map explaining the causes of climate change.

The AI uses public knowledge to generate an editable mind map that serves as a starting point you can continue to refine using SmartDraw's built-in mind mapping tools.

Generate mind map with natural language

Scenario 2: Visualize an Existing Outline

If you've already organized your thoughts and simply want to present them visually, provide the information you already have instead of asking AI to generate new ideas.

Your own information can be as simple as an outline or meeting notes, but feel free to try the following formats:

  • Bullet lists
  • Outlines
  • Nested lists
  • Markdown headings
  • JSON
Create mind map using brainstorm outline

Try this example outline:

Health App Product Brainstorm

├── Target Audience
│   ├── General wellness
│   ├── Weight loss
│   ├── Athletes
│   ├── Seniors
│   ├── Families
│   ├── Children
│   ├── Chronic disease patients
│   ├── Mental health users
│   └── Healthcare providers

├── Health Goals
│   ├── Fitness
│   ├── Nutrition
│   ├── Sleep
│   ├── Stress reduction
│   ├── Hydration
│   ├── Medication adherence
│   ├── Preventive care
│   └── Habit building

├── Core Features
│   ├── Activity tracking
│   ├── Meal logging
│   ├── Water tracking
│   ├── Sleep monitoring
│   ├── Mood journal
│   ├── Medication reminders
│   ├── Appointment scheduling
│   ├── Health dashboard
│   └── Goal setting

├── AI Capabilities
│   ├── Personalized coaching
│   ├── Meal recommendations
│   ├── Workout generation
│   ├── Health insights
│   ├── Symptom checker
│   ├── Progress summaries
│   ├── Predictive reminders
│   └── Conversational assistant

If needed, AI can help organize or reformat your information before SmartDraw converts it into a fully editable mind map.

Mind map created from existing outline

Continue Editing Your Mind Map

Once your mind map is generated, you can edit it in SmartDraw:

  • Add or remove topics
  • Rearrange branches
  • Expand ideas with additional subtopics
  • Apply colors and styles
  • Add notes, hyperlinks, or images
  • Collaborate with teammates

Use SmartDraw AI to quickly generate a starting point that you can turn into a polished, professional mind map in minutes.

Learn how to edit mind maps in SmartDraw.
Editing mind map inside SmartDraw