Tree of Thoughts (ToT)
Parallel thinking paths for complex problem solving
Tree of Thoughts (ToT) extends Chain-of-Thought by exploring and evaluating multiple solution paths in parallel. The AI branches into different possibilities at each step and selects the most promising paths.
How does ToT work?
Imagine a decision tree:
- Each node is an intermediate step
- Multiple branches extend from each node
- The AI evaluates each branch and pursues the best ones
- The optimal path is chosen at the end
Simple ToT Example
Business Strategy
Problem: Increase revenue by 20%
Level 1 - Main approaches:
βββ A: Enter new markets
βββ B: Expand existing customers
βββ C: Extend product portfolio
Level 2 - Evaluation and deepening:
A: New markets
βββ A1: International expansion (Risk: high, Potential: high)
βββ A2: Target new customer groups (Risk: medium, Potential: medium)
βββ A3: New distribution channels (Risk: low, Potential: medium)
B: Existing customers
βββ B1: Upselling programs (Risk: low, Potential: medium)
βββ B2: Strengthen customer loyalty (Risk: low, Potential: high)
βββ B3: Optimize cross-selling (Risk: low, Potential: medium)
Level 3 - Final selection:
Optimal path: Combine B2 + A3
Practical Applications
Product Development
Task: Develop new feature for our app
Level 1 - Basic direction:
βββ Improve user-friendliness
βββ Add new functionality
βββ Optimize performance
Level 2 - Concrete ideas (User-friendliness):
βββ Simplify onboarding
β βββ Interactive tutorial
β βββ Video introduction
β βββ Step-by-step guide
βββ Revise navigation
β βββ New menu structure
β βββ Improve search function
β βββ Introduce shortcuts
βββ Personalization
βββ Individual dashboards
βββ Customizable themes
βββ AI-based recommendations
Assessment: Shortcuts + AI recommendations = best combination
Problem Solving
Problem: High employee turnover
Analysis levels:
βββ Root cause research
β βββ Salary/Benefits
β βββ Work culture
β βββ Career opportunities
βββ Immediate measures
β βββ Exit interviews
β βββ Employee survey
β βββ Benchmark analysis
βββ Long-term solutions
βββ Mentoring programs
βββ Flexible work models
βββ Define career paths
Recommended path: Exit interviews β Work culture analysis β Flexible models
ToT Prompt Templates
Simplified Version
Imagine three different experts solving this problem.
Each develops their own approach:
Problem: [Your challenge]
Expert 1 (conservative): [Approach 1]
Expert 2 (innovative): [Approach 2]
Expert 3 (pragmatic): [Approach 3]
Each expert evaluates the other approaches.
Which path or combination is optimal?
Structured Version
Problem: [Define the problem]
Step 1 - Possible approaches:
- Option A: [Description]
- Option B: [Description]
- Option C: [Description]
Step 2 - Evaluate each option:
- Advantages/Disadvantages
- Probability of success
- Resource requirements
Step 3 - Deepen the best 2 options:
[Detailed elaboration]
Step 4 - Final recommendation
Iterative Version
Round 1: Brainstorm 5 solution approaches
Round 2: Choose the best 3 and develop them further
Round 3: Combine elements of the top 2 approaches
Round 4: Optimize the final solution
Advanced ToT Techniques
Multi-Criteria Evaluation
Rate each path by:
1. Feasibility (0-10)
2. Cost (0-10)
3. Time effort (0-10)
4. Success probability (0-10)
Only paths with total score > 30 are pursued
Allow Backtracking
If a path doesn't work:
1. Go back one step
2. Choose the second-best option
3. Explore alternative routes
4. Learn from the failure
Parallel Exploration
Pursue the top 3 paths simultaneously:
Path A: [Development]
Path B: [Development]
Path C: [Development]
Merge successful elements at the end
Practical Examples
Marketing Campaign
Goal: New product launch
Main strategies:
βββ Digital First
β βββ Social Media Blitz
β βββ Influencer Partnership
β βββ Content Marketing
βββ Traditional Media
β βββ TV Advertising
β βββ Print Ads
β βββ Radio Spots
βββ Guerilla Marketing
βββ Pop-up Events
βββ Street Art
βββ Viral Stunts
Optimal mix: Social Media + Pop-up Events + Content Marketing
Software Architecture
Requirement: Scalable E-Commerce Platform
Architecture options:
βββ Monolith
β βββ Simple development
β βββ Difficult scaling
βββ Microservices
β βββ Independent services
β βββ Complex orchestration
β βββ Optimal scaling
βββ Serverless
βββ No infrastructure management
βββ Vendor lock-in
βββ Variable costs
Decision: Hybrid of Microservices + Serverless for critical components
Best Practices
GitBranch
Breadth before depth
First explore many options superficially
Target
Evaluation criteria
Define clear metrics for each path
RefreshCw
Flexibility
Stay open to course corrections
When to use ToT?
β Perfect for:
- Strategic decisions
- Complex problem solving
- Innovation projects
- When multiple solution paths exist
β Less suitable for:
- Simple, linear tasks
- Time-critical decisions
- When only one correct answer exists
Combination with Other Techniques
ToT + Self-Consistency
"Develop three decision trees for the same problem.
Find commonalities in the optimal paths."
ToT + Generated Knowledge
"First generate expertise for each branch,
before conducting the evaluation."
Practical Exercise
Apply ToT to this challenge: "Your company needs to reduce operating costs by 15% without compromising quality."
- Identify 3 main approaches
- Develop 3 sub-options each
- Evaluate all paths
- Choose the optimal strategy
Pro tip: Visualize your thought tree! A graphical representation helps with decision-making.
Next step: Learn about Prompt Chaining for sequential, multi-stage tasks.