Getting the most out of AI prompts

There is an art, or at least a craft, to getting a chatbot to comply and it comes down to one thing; there’s much more of artificial in AI than there is intelligence.

We need to start with an understanding of what the LLM interface we use actually does, which is to treat language as a statistical model – it returns the most likely looking response based on masses of training data. It doesn’t understand nuance or really even get word level concepts like connotations and associations of meaning. In short it can access intuition in the way a human can.

Once we understand this we can start to work within the limitations of the interface and begin to access the useful capabilities these technologies do offer.

Top Tips for Prompting

Hi, thank you for your request. I will try to generate a list of 5 top tips for writing prompts from AI chatbots to produce useful content for classroom teachers. Here is what I came up with:

Top Tips for Writing Prompts from AI Chatbots

AI chatbots are becoming more popular and powerful tools for creating content. They can help you generate ideas, write texts, and even create images from words. However, to get the most out of AI chatbots, you need to know how to write effective prompts that can guide them to produce useful content for classroom teachers. Here are some tips to help you write better prompts for AI chatbots:

1. Be specific and clear

The first tip is to be specific and clear about what you want the AI chatbot to do. A vague or ambiguous prompt can confuse the AI chatbot and result in irrelevant or nonsensical content. For example, if you want the AI chatbot to write a short story about a superhero, you should not just write “a superhero story”. Instead, you should provide more details, such as the genre, the setting, the characters, the plot, and the tone of the story. For example, you could write “a sci-fi superhero story set in a dystopian future, where a young girl discovers she has telekinetic powers and joins a rebel group to fight against a tyrannical regime. The story should be suspenseful and action-packed.”

2. Use keywords and phrases

The second tip is to use keywords and phrases that can help the AI chatbot understand the topic and the purpose of your prompt. Keywords and phrases are words or expressions that are related to the subject matter and the intended outcome of your prompt. For example, if you want the AI chatbot to write a summary of a news article, you should use keywords and phrases such as “summary”, “news article”, “main points”, “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why”, and “how”. For example, you could write “write a summary of the news article below, highlighting the main points and answering the questions who, what, when, where, why, and how.”

3. Provide examples and instructions

The third tip is to provide examples and instructions that can help the AI chatbot follow the format and the style of your prompt. Examples and instructions are samples or guidelines that show the AI chatbot how to structure and present the content. For example, if you want the AI chatbot to write a poem about love, you should provide examples and instructions such as the type of poem, the rhyme scheme, the meter, the theme, and the mood of the poem. For example, you could write “write a sonnet about love, following the Shakespearean rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG), using iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line with alternating unstressed and stressed syllables), and expressing a positive and romantic theme and mood.”

4. Be creative and original

The fourth tip is to be creative and original when writing prompts for AI chatbots. A creative and original prompt can inspire the AI chatbot to produce more interesting and engaging content. You can use your imagination, your humor, your emotions, and your personal experiences to write prompts that are unique and appealing. For example, if you want the AI chatbot to write a recipe for a dish, you should not just write “a recipe for pasta”. Instead, you should add some flair and flavor to your prompt, such as the name, the ingredients, the steps, and the tips of the dish. For example, you could write “write a recipe for Grandma’s secret spaghetti sauce, using fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, sugar, and olive oil. The recipe should have 5 easy steps and include tips on how to make the sauce thick and rich.”

5. Experiment and have fun

The fifth and final tip is to experiment and have fun when writing prompts for AI chatbots. Experimenting and having fun can help you discover new possibilities and potentials of AI chatbots. You can try different types of prompts, such as questions, statements, commands, challenges, and scenarios. You can also try different genres, topics, formats, and styles of content, such as stories, poems, essays, jokes, memes, images, and more. You can also mix and match different elements, such as words, images, emojis, and symbols. For example, you could write “write a haiku about a cat wearing sunglasses, using the image below and the emoji 😎.”