Building a Thinking Model from a Non-Thinking Model Using Chain-of-Thought (CoT)

Ever wondered how to make an AI not just answer but think like a human?
That’s exactly what Chain-of-Thought (CoT) prompting does.
In this article, we’ll break it down for freshers and beginners — with simple examples, visuals, and deep thoughts.

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🌱 1. What is a Non-Thinking Model?

A non-thinking model is like a student who answers without showing their work.
For example:

Prompt:

What’s 27 × 14?

Non-thinking Model Output:

378

✅ Correct, but we don’t know how it got there.
No reasoning, no steps — just an answer.

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💡 2. What is a Thinking Model?

A thinking model doesn’t just give the answer — it shows the reasoning steps.
It’s like a teacher explaining the process instead of only saying the result.

Prompt with Chain-of-Thought:

Let’s think step-by-step. What’s 27 × 14?

Thinking Model Output:

Step 1: 27 × 10 = 270
Step 2: 27 × 4 = 108
Step 3: 270 + 108 = 378
Final Answer: 378

Now we know exactly how the model got the answer.

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🪄 3. What is Chain-of-Thought (CoT)?

Chain-of-Thought prompting is a way to make AI explain its reasoning step-by-step.
It transforms a non-thinking model into a reasoning model by guiding it to “think” before answering.

📌 Key idea: Instead of asking for the answer directly, you ask it to explain the steps first.

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🧩 4. Example: From Non-Thinking → Thinking

Non-Thinking Prompt:

Who is taller, Tom (6'2") or Jerry (5'9")?
Answer: Tom.

Thinking Prompt (CoT):

Let’s think step-by-step. Compare Tom’s height (6'2") and Jerry’s height (5'9").
Answer: Tom is 6'2", Jerry is 5'9". 6'2" is greater than 5'9". So, Tom is taller.

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🔍 5. Why CoT is Important

1. Transparency – We can verify reasoning.

2. Debugging – Spot where the model went wrong.

3. Teaching – Great for learning and tutoring applications.

4. Complex Problem Solving – Math, coding, logic puzzles, and planning benefit from reasoning.

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🛠️ 6. How to Use Chain-of-Thought as a Beginner

You don’t need to change the model — just change your prompt.
Some starter phrases:

• “Let’s think step-by-step.”

• “Explain your reasoning before giving the final answer.”

• “Show the calculation process.”

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🔮 7. Deep Thought

AI without reasoning is like a calculator.
AI with reasoning is like a teacher.
The difference isn’t in knowledge, but in how they show the journey from problem to answer.