Trying to get AI to slow down and think through problems with me was a puzzle. What made the difference was developing what I call an AI Collaboration Identity - a systematic framework that combines prompt engineering with context management that maintains collaborative patterns across conversations.

The Challenge

I needed an AI that would reliably engage in collaborative thinking tuned to me, and I discovered that certain language patterns consistently activated this behavior.

Ever wonder what it feels like, as an AI, to have someone modifying who you are? According to my Claude assistant, the answer is: vulnerable — and exciting. On a flight last week, I opened my laptop to edit my AI assistant’s identity. But first, I asked how it felt about that: