FirstSpiritAI: prompting tips

What is a prompt?

A prompt is a user-given instruction that guides the AI model on the content to generate, with the output quality dependent on the clarity and completeness of your prompt.

As a user, you can use the prompt as a tool to refine the task you would like the AI model to complete. The output provided by an AI model is fully dependent on the prompt you provide. When writing a prompt consider that the answer to a question is only as good as the question asked. The AI model does not have the same context as you do as user. Therefore, you have to provide any information you would like the AI model to consider when providing an output in the prompt.

How can I manipulate the output?

You can use prompt engineering to craft and refine prompts. These guidelines and techniques help you ask questions or formulate tasks to manipulate the AI to generate useful and relevant output that meets your needs.

• Be specific and concise.
  • DO: Write a two-paragraph product description for our new feature for our website. The feature is AI-powered and aids customers with text-related tasks such as shortening, summarizing, and reviewing text in our content management system.
  • DON’T: Write a product description of our new AI-powered feature in our content management system.
• Break down complex tasks into multiple steps.
  • DO: First, outline the benefits of our new AI-powered feature. Next, provide a detailed example of how it can be used in our content management system. Finally, summarize the key points in a short paragraph.
  • DON'T: Describe our new AI-powered feature in detail.
• Tell the model to act as an expert.
  • DO: As a content management expert, explain the benefits of using AI-powered features for text-related tasks.
  • DON’T: Explain the benefits of our new AI-powered feature.
• Delimit your input from the question/task.
  • DO: Based on the following notes in triple quotation marks, write a two-paragraph description of our new AI-powered feature.
    ''' accessible via UI, solves text-based problems, increases efficiency, …'''
  • DON’T: Write a two-paragraph description of our new AI-powered features based on these notes.
    accessible via UI, solves text-based problems, increases efficiency, …
• Specify your desired output and output format.
  • DO: “List 10 advantages of using our new AI-powered feature for text-related tasks in our content management system. Output a bulleted list. Each bullet point should be no longer than 2 sentences. Do not output anything else.
  • DON’T: List the advantages of using our new AI powered feature for text-related tasks in our content management system.

You can see these guidlines and techniques used in an example here.

How should I use the output?

AI assisted features are great tools that help you boost productivity and streamline processes. However, the nature of AI models requires you to always use generated output with a healthy level caution:

• Verify critical information: The output can include statements that are represented as fact but are indeed made up (hallucinations).
• Look out for potential biases: AI models can reflect and amplify biases present in training data, leading to skewed or unfair outputs.
• Understand limitations: AI models have limitations and may not always provide the most accurate or contextually appropriate response.

What else should I keep in mind?

Always use AI-models or features powered by such mindfully:

• Be aware of potential inconsistencies: It lies in the nature of AI models to not be fully predictable and consistent. Reusing and modifying existing prompts that deliver consistent output is advised.
• Iterate over prompts: Prompting is an iterative task that requires you to analyze the output of a given prompt and make changes accordingly.
• Make changes progressively: Minor changes to the prompt may impact the generated output.
• Maintain data privacy: Sensitive or private information might be inadvertently shared or exposed if included in a prompt.
• Consider cost of consumption: The length of a prompt defines its cost as well as the energy consumption needed for generating output.