In the digital age, presenting ideas visually is no longer the privilege of tech professionals. Mermaid – a simple text-based diagramming tool – is revolutionizing the way we think visually, especially when combined with artificial intelligence (AI). This article will explain how anyone, from teachers to store managers, can create professional diagrams with just a few lines of description.

Part 1: Understanding Mermaid – The Magic Pen for Your Ideas

1.1 What is Mermaid?

Mermaid is not complex graphic software; it is a text-to-diagram conversion tool using natural language-like syntax[1][6]. Instead of dragging and dropping shapes, you simply describe it in words like:

"Start from preparing ingredients, then cooking, and finally presenting the dish"
"Students do homework => Teacher grades => Parents receive results"

A specific example of Mermaid code for a simple process:

1.2 Why Choose Mermaid in the Age of AI?

AI has turned Mermaid into a powerful assistant:

Automatic code generation: Just describe your idea, and AI like ChatGPT will write the Mermaid code for you[10].
Smart editing: Platforms like Mermaid Flow (integrated with AI) suggest ways to optimize diagrams based on context[1].
Cross-platform collaboration: Use it alongside familiar tools like Google Docs and Notion without installation[2][8].

Part 2: Practical Applications for Non-Experts

2.1 Personal Planning

Suppose you want to schedule a family cooking project:

AI assistance: Enter the request "I need to schedule cooking 3 dishes with backup steps" into Mermaid Flow, and the system will automatically generate the code and diagram[1].

2.2 Designing a Small Business Process

An online store owner can model the order process:

Benefits: Easily share with staff without lengthy explanations[6][11].

Part 3: Practical Guide with AI

3.1 Step 1: Articulate Your Idea Verbally

For example: "I want to draw a recruitment process diagram consisting of 4 steps: posting a job, interviewing, trial work, signing a contract."

3.2 Step 2: Use AI Support Tools

ChatGPT: Type the prompt: "Create Mermaid code for the 4-step recruitment process as above"[10].
Mermaid Flow: Enter the description into the text box, and AI will automatically render it into a diagram[1].

3.3 Step 3: Visual Editing

On Miro[2], drag additional emoticons into the interview steps to highlight human interaction.

Part 4: Future Trends – AI & Community Power

4.1 Multi-Platform Integration

The My Mermaid project[3] demonstrates the potential applications in education, especially where AI analyzes responses from autistic children through interactive diagrams.

4.2 Expanding Community

With over 65,400 stars on GitHub[8], the Mermaid library is continuously updated with new features like automatic layout alignment thanks to AI.

Conclusion: Visual Thinking – An Essential Skill in the 4.0 Era

Mermaid has broken down technical barriers, turning diagramming into a creative activity that anyone can do. When combined with AI, this tool not only saves time but also opens up a multidimensional approach to knowledge. Start by describing your idea – let Mermaid and AI take care of the rest!

Real-world example from research: The My Mermaid application helped 300 autistic children improve their social skills by 43% after 12 weeks[3].

Some Examples

Sources