Crafting the Perfect Prompt

In an age where artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a part of our everyday lives, the ability to communicate with AI tools like ChatGPT and CoPilot can significantly enhance productivity and creativity. At AI Matters, we believe in empowering everyone with the knowledge to harness these powerful tools. Whether you already use AI as part of your day-to-day or are someone curious about the potential of AI, this guide is for you. Plus, by subscribing to our newsletter, you'll gain access to a number of free AI resources to further your learning journey.

Crafting a well-structured prompt is the key to unlocking the most accurate and helpful responses from AI. To guide you through this process, we've outlined a straightforward, four-step method: Goal, Context, Source, and Expectations.

Step 1: Goal - What Do You Want from ChatGPT?

The first step is to identify your objective. What response are you seeking? Being clear about your goal helps AI understand the essence of your request, ensuring a more targeted and relevant answer.

Poor Example: "Tell me about Python."

Improved Example: "I want to learn how to write a Python script that can automatically send emails. Can you guide me through the process?"

Step 2: Context - Why Do You Need It and Who Is Involved?

Providing context involves explaining why you need the information and who it concerns. This helps the AI tailor its response more specifically to your needs, considering your level of understanding or the particularities of your situation.

Poor Example: "How do I improve team productivity?"

Improved Example: "As a project manager, I'm looking for strategies to enhance my software development team's productivity, especially with remote work challenges. What are some effective approaches?"

Step 3: Source - Which Information Sources or Samples Should ChatGPT Use?

Although AI like ChatGPT and CoPilot have vast knowledge, guiding them towards specific sources or types of information can improve the relevance and accuracy of their responses.

Note: While ChatGPT cannot browse the internet or access real-time data, you can still specify if you're looking for answers based on certain types of sources, like recent studies, expert opinions, or industry standards.

Poor Example: "Explain machine learning."

Improved Example: "Can you explain machine learning principles based on recent computer science research?"

Step 4: Expectations - How Should ChatGPT Respond to Best Meet Your Expectations?

Finally, clarify how you want the information to be presented. Do you prefer a detailed explanation, a summary, examples, or step-by-step instructions? Setting these expectations helps ensure the response format aligns with your needs.

Poor Example: "What is blockchain?"

Improved Example: "Could you provide a brief overview of blockchain technology and its key advantages for secure transactions?"

Practical Examples

Let's put these 4 steps together and apply our method to a couple of practical scenarios:

Scenario 1:

Initial prompt: “Can you explain Investment banking to me?”

• Goal: Understand investment basics.

• Context: You're a beginner in investing.

• Source: Seeking explanations that simplify financial jargon.

• Expectations: A beginner's guide with examples.

• Improved Prompt: "As someone new to investing, could you explain the basics of stock market investment, using simple language and examples to illustrate key concepts?"

Scenario 2:

Initial prompt: “Create a blog post about the use of Artificial Intelligence in Marketing”

• Goal: Create a blog post about the use of Artificial Intelligence in Marketing.

• Context: The target audience is Marketing Managers who are looking for guidance on the use of AI

• Source: Use published industry statistics as reference points

• Expectations: Limit it to 1000 words and use an informative but relaxed tone

• Improved Prompt: "Create a 100 word blog post about the use of Artificial Intelligence in the Marketing Industry, the audience will be Marketing Managers looks to guidance on how to use AI, Use information from industry published statistics and use an informative but relaxed tone"

By following these steps—Goal, Context, Source, and Expectations—you'll craft effective prompts that yield helpful and accurate responses from AI tools like ChatGPT and CoPilot. Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you interact with these AIs, the better you'll become at communicating your needs clearly and effectively.

And don't forget, at AI Matters, we're committed to your AI education journey. Subscribe to our newsletter today for access to exclusive AI resources that will help you navigate the exciting world of artificial intelligence with confidence. Together, let's unlock the full potential of AI to transform your work, creativity, and daily life.