* Scholarly Communications *

Prompting in AI

A "prompt" in Artificial Intelligence is the user input and a well crafted prompt is key to receiving a useful reply.  Crafting a successful AI prompt is both an art and a science. A well-designed prompt can dramatically improve the relevance, clarity, and usefulness of the AI's response. Here are the key factors that contribute to a successful prompt:

1. Clarity and Specificity

• Be clear about what you're asking. Avoid vague or overly broad questions.
• Specify the format you want the answer in (e.g., list, summary, code, table).
• Example:
  • ❌ Tell me about climate change.
  • ✅ Summarize the main causes of climate change in bullet points.

2. Context

• Provide background information or constraints that help the AI understand your intent.
• Mention any relevant details like audience, purpose, or tone.
• Example:
  • ✅ Write a professional email to a client explaining a project delay due to supply chain issues.

3. Goal-Oriented Language

• Frame your prompt around the outcome you want.
• Use verbs like generate, summarize, compare, analyze, design, etc.
• Example:
  • ✅ Generate a list of pros and cons for remote work vs. in-office work.

4. Avoid Ambiguity

• If a term has multiple meanings, clarify which one you mean.
• Example:
  • ❌ Explain Java.
  • ✅ Explain the Java programming language for a beginner.

5. Use Examples (if needed)

• Including examples can guide the AI toward the style or structure you want.
• Example:
  • ✅ Write a poem in the style of Robert Frost. Here's an example of his work...

6. Ask Follow-Up Questions

• If you're exploring a topic, build on previous prompts to deepen the conversation.
• This helps refine the output and get more nuanced insights.

7. Iteration

• Don’t be afraid to revise your prompt based on the response you get.
• Prompt engineering is often an iterative process.