Let’s face it – we live in the age of AI. Chatbots like ChatGPT have taken the world by storm, dazzling us with their ability to generate coherent essays, stories, and even computer code with just a few prompts.
But here’s the dirty little secret the AI companies won’t tell you: their bots are dumber than a sack of bricks without good prompt engineering.
That’s where you come in. If you want your AI assistant to assist you (instead of wasting your time with useless drivel), you must master the art of prompt engineering.
And I’m here to show you what is prompt engineering!
Prompt engineering is the process of carefully crafting the prompts you give your AI assistant to get better results.
It’s like learning how to give clear instructions to an eager but dim-witted intern. You have to be specific, provide context, and set clear expectations.
For example, simply telling your AI assistant to “write a blog post about prompt engineering” will likely result in a vague, rambling mess.
But give it some direction like:” Write a 1200-word beginner’s guide to prompt engineering for marketers. Focus on fundamentals like structure, specificity, and examples. Use an informal, conversational tone. Include subheadings and bullet points.”
And you’ll get something much more helpful.
The AI doesn’t actually understand anything – it just recognizes patterns based on the data it’s trained on. Good prompt engineering exploits those patterns for better results.
It’s the difference between a tool and a toy. And it’s the key to getting real value from AI.
Prompt engineering is part art, part science. But there are some fundamentals you can apply to craft better prompts:
Vague prompts produce vague results. Get into the details of what you want:
The more you can define the structure and content, the better.
Be clear about what type of output you want:
Essay, story, script, poem
Also, indicate if you want:
Treat your first prompt as a starting point. Review the results and refine the prompt based on what worked and didn’t work.
Prompt engineering is an iterative process. The more you do it, the better you get.
Once you get the basics down, there are some more advanced techniques to try:
Ask a series of interrelated prompts in sequence to produce longer, more coherent results:
It’s like leading the AI through a conversation.
Provide examples of what you want:
It gives the AI a template to follow.
Start with an outline or just a title. Then, ask the AI to expand on each part.
Great for structured long-form content like reports, scripts, or books.
Have the AI suggest ways to improve your original prompt, then refine it based on its feedback.
Lets you collaborate with the AI to co-create better prompts.
Prompt engineering techniques vary based on the type of content you want the AI to generate.
Here are tips for some common use cases:
Focus prompts on defining the product, differentiators, target audience emotions, and desired actions. Use examples of successful copy. Ask to optimize for readability.
Provide sources and highlights upfront. Specify sections for background, key findings, and conclusions: request citations and data visualizations.
Outline the problem to be solved. Describe ideal user personas. Ask for bulleted lists of creative ideas or innovations. Request evaluation of feasibility.
Give a customer name, persona, and opening question. Share relevant support docs. Ask for conversational responses that solve issues.
Supply code context and language. Specify tasks like improving efficiency or fixing bugs. Ask for annotated code snippets. Request explanations of logic.
– It allows you to get more value from AI systems like ChatGPT. Vague prompts produce vague results.
– Prompt engineering exploits the patterns AI systems are trained on to improve their output.
– It helps you steer the AI and avoid tangents or incoherent responses.
– Be specific – provide details on what you want like word count, tone, structure etc.
– Give context – prime the AI with relevant background information.
– Set clear expectations – define the type of output format you want.
– Refine iteratively – start with a prompt and edit based on the results.
– Use techniques like chaining prompts, providing examples, and starting with titles/outlines.
– Focus on the goal and audience. Explain what you want the AI to do.
– Include keywords and topics to cover.
– Give formatting requirements like headings, lists, or images.
– Provide examples for the AI to follow.
– Ask follow up questions to clarify or expand on the initial prompt.
To recap, here are some best practices for crafting effective prompts:
Be specific – provide details and constraints
Prompt engineering takes experimentation and practice. But it’s the key to unlocking the true potential of AI.
The bots don’t actually understand us (yet). We have to meet them halfway with thoughtful prompts engineered for our goals.
Do that, and your AI assistant goes from a toy to an indispensable tool. So start prompting and watch it do your bidding!
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*The information this blog provides is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The information may not reflect current developments and may be changed or updated without notice. Any opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s employer or any other organization. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this blog without first seeking the advice of a professional. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this blog. The author and affiliated parties assume no liability for any errors or omissions.