As we explore the power of Generative AI tools, “prompts” have become a focus of how we gain valuable outputs or answers to the questions users pose. In order to get precise answers and the best responses possible, it is important to craft your prompts carefully. Here are 10 tips on how to make your AI prompts more detailed and focused so that you can get the desired response.
What Is an AI Prompt?
In this world of advanced technology, it’s hard to go a day without hearing about how AI is transforming our home and work lives. Generative AI has made it easier than ever to create content, crunch numbers, analyze data, and make videos. However, these outputs require that a prompt is filled in by each AI tool. The better the prompt, the more detailed and precise the answer or response will be. Prompts are requests made by a user to an AI tool such as Chat GPT, Gemini, or Copilot. For instance, “What’s the best way to start a meeting?” This is a very general question that will get a response that may or may not be quite what you are looking for. However, if you tweak it with some of our suggestions you may get the concise response you want.
#1 - Be Specific
The key to writing a prompt that will deliver the response you want is to be as detailed and specific as possible. For instance in our example above regarding the “What’s the best way to start a meeting?” question, it would be helpful to add details about the meeting such as the type of meeting (board meeting, staff meeting, marketing meeting, etc.) and the demographics of the group such as for new hires, veteran team members or retiring employees. Additionally, you may want to add details such as the time of day, the goal of the meeting and other specifics that can make the response more tailored to your unique situation. This additional information added to the prompt could be changed to “What is the best way to start a meeting for newly hired healthcare workers in the field of gerontology?” These details can drastically change the specificity of the response.
#2 - Tell The Prompt How You Want It Presented
Prompts are great for finding information and analyzing content or data for users. However, you may want the information in a different format that is easier to digest. Generative AI tools can present your response in formats such as a summary, list, video audio and more. All you need to put into the prompt would be “Create a summary of how I should start a meeting for newly hired healthcare workers in the field of gerontology.”
#3 - Use the Terminology of Do & Do Not in Prompts
Generative AI only knows the requests that show up in the prompt box so get down to the nitty gritty and tell it exactly what you DO and DO NOT want in the output. For example “Do not include jokes” as a part of the response or do include a professional greeting.
#4 - Use An Example in the Prompt
Examples are great for teaching your AI tool to give you the response you want. Plug in content or examples of what you are looking for and they should be able to give you a similar response. Be sure to exclude copyrighted materials.
#5 - Ask the AI To Consider Tone
When entering your prompt, you may have a particular tone you want your response to come through and feel free to mention that in your prompt. For instance, if you would like your AI tool to craft an apology letter you could indicate that you want it to be heartfelt, funny or serious in tone. This could change the wording and style that the AI tool would use.
#6 - Consider The Audience in the Prompt
Marketing professionals know that you need to keep your target audience in mind when developing marketing materials. AI tools should be given the same information too! For example, you may enter in your prompt that the group you are focused on is a group of children, professionals, adults or another category. By saying, “Create a list of books that may appeal to children age 10 and older that are about airplanes,” you would get a distinctly different list than one for aviation professionals or aviation lovers. Your AI tool will use the audience parameters to craft the response in a way that appeals to that audience.
#7 - Correct Mistakes in the Prompt
One of the ways that AI tools learn is when users correct the mistakes in previous prompts and indicate what part of the output was useful and what was not. Indicate your preferences in subsequent prompts.
#8 - Include Context in The Prompt
While it may take an extra few minutes to type in the context of what you are seeking in an output, it is a good idea to give the context behind your request. Any background information will help the AI tool and can help it cater to your specific needs.
#9 - Use Keywords in the Prompt
Again, if you are seeking a detail-specific response, give details in the prompt that can help you get the best information. For instance, if there are keywords used in your field or industry that would help it find an answer or craft a response, use them in the prompt. For healthcare workers looking to craft something about privacy, using keywords such as HIPAA and privacy laws would be helpful to the tool.
#10 - Help the AI Tool Understand Your Objective
In your prompt, clearly define what you want to achieve. For instance, “Give me a lengthy list of things to discuss in a one-on-one meeting with team members in order to improve productivity.” That specificity will allow for a list that is focused on your overall objective of increasing productivity. Do you need help writing prompts and navigating the new landscape of generative AI? Let our team help you. Contact us online, call us at (978) 219-9752, or visit us at Mill 58 on Pulaski Street in Peabody.
