Dr. Rebecca Chin sat in her office, staring at a decision that would define her career. Two venture capital firms wanted to invest $5 million in her biotech startup. On paper, both offers looked identical—same valuation, same terms, same board seats. But something felt different about them, and she couldn't put her finger on what.
"I've analyzed this from every angle," she told her advisor, Professor Kumar. "I've made pro/con lists, financial models, even called other founders. I still can't decide."
Professor Kumar smiled. "You're trying to think your way to an answer. What if instead, you questioned your way to clarity?"
"What do you mean?"
"Use AI not to give you answers, but to ask you the right questions. Like Socrates did with his students—drawing out wisdom they didn't know they had."
Skeptical but desperate, Rebecca opened ChatGPT. But instead of asking "Which investor should I choose?" she typed something different:
"You are a wise business mentor who uses the Socratic method. I'm struggling to choose between two seemingly identical investment offers for my biotech startup. Don't tell me what to do. Instead, ask me probing questions that will help me discover what really matters in this decision. Start with one powerful question."
The AI responded: "When you imagine working with each investor for the next five years, which relationship makes you feel more energized to tackle the inevitable hard times ahead?"
Rebecca paused. She hadn't thought about the emotional dimension. As she answered, the AI asked another question, then another. Each question peeled back a layer:
"What happens to your company culture if you optimize for the metrics each investor prioritizes?"
"Which investor's network would help you solve your biggest technical challenge right now?"
"If your startup pivots—as most do—which investor would support exploring adjacent possibilities versus pushing for the original vision?"
After 30 minutes of questions, Rebecca had her answer. Not because AI told her what to do, but because it helped her discover what she already knew deep down: Investor B's obsession with quick exits would clash with her vision of building a generational company.
"The Socratic Method," Professor Kumar explained later, "isn't about getting answers. It's about discovering truths you couldn't access through analysis alone."