In the world of artificial intelligence (AI), the ability to craft effective prompts is crucial. A well-written prompt can significantly enhance the performance of AI, unlocking hidden potential and optimizing outcomes. In this post, we will explore advanced techniques for prompt writing, with concrete examples to help you better understand how to apply these strategies.
1. The Importance of Synonyms
Choosing the right words can make a difference. For instance, if you’re unsuccessfully trying to get a list of restaurants from AI, try varying your language. Instead of simply asking “Give me a list of restaurants,” you could try “List all available dining options” or “Provide a complete list of restaurants.” Linguistic variation can help AI better understand your request.
2. Consistency in Repeated Words
Maintaining consistent language is key. If you start your prompt with “customer details,” continue using this phrase throughout the prompt and do not replace the word “customer” with similar ones (e.g., prospect, etc.). Changing terminology can confuse AI and decrease the effectiveness of your communication.
3. Positive and Causative Language
Using language that clearly links the elements of your prompt can greatly improve AI’s responses. For example, if you’ve provided feedback from a customer and want AI to use it to improve a text, phrase your request in a way that implies a causal relationship, like “Apply customer feedback to enhance the post.”
Practical Example:
- Less effective: “Rewrite the post with customer feedback.”
- More effective: “Use the customer feedback above to rework the post.”
4. Transformative Language
When AI adheres too closely to an element of the prompt, use transformative language to encourage it to creatively reinterpret the material. For example, if you want to transform a poem into song lyrics, specify “Reinterpret the concepts of the above poem into lyrics for a song,” to stimulate a more inventive approach.
5. Avoid Negative Commands
AI tends to focus on elements you ask it to avoid. Instead of saying “Don’t be too formal,” it’s more effective to use a positive command like “Maintain an informal and friendly tone.”
6. Choose Verbs Carefully
Verbs drive AI’s action. Instead of using generic verbs like “write” or “summarize,” choose verbs that capture the essence of the desired action. For example, “Condense this text” instead of “Rewrite this text to make it shorter.”
7. Context and Mode of Communication
Providing context and communicating clearly and humanly with AI improves the quality of responses. Use the “printed page test,” meaning to formulate prompts in a way that, if they were printed on a piece of paper and given to someone without additional context, the person would still be able to understand what is requested and could act accordingly. This test ensures that the prompt is clear and detailed enough to be understood without ambiguity.
For example, if your prompt is “Write an apology email for a delivery delay,” providing additional context like “The email is for an important customer who was expecting an urgent delivery. Highlight our commitment to quality and timeliness, and offer compensation for the inconvenience caused” makes the task much clearer for AI, allowing it to generate a more appropriate and personalized response.
Conclusion:
Writing prompts for AI is a valuable skill that requires practice and patience. Remember to vary your language, maintain consistency, use positive and causative language, carefully choose verbs, avoid negative commands, and provide adequate context. By following these tips, you’ll be able to formulate prompts that maximize AI’s performance, leading to surprisingly effective results. Happy prompt writing!
