Introduction
Using ChatGPT, and Various other Artificial Intelligence tool that have come to the table this year, has changed my life. I have never felt like technology is on my side quite like I do now. If you aren't aware, ChatGPT is a highly advanced, highly customizable AI tool that can be used for anything. Yes, anything. You give it a question or assignment, aka a prompt, and ChatGPT will use its database to produce a well written, well informed response. Using good prompts is the key to getting good results.
A good example of how your prompt can affect the quality of results can be found when asking ChatGPT to write an article. Asking the AI “Can your write a paper on dinosaurs?” will produce a fairly well written but fundamentally random paper about random dinosaur facts. A better prompt would be catered to the needs of the article you are looking to write. For example: “Write a 2 page article about the most deadly dinosaurs of the paleolithic era. Write with clarity and directness in the voice of a paleontologist (although do not claim to be a paleontologist. Use common paleontology jargon and details about these dinosaurs that only experts would know.” I could keep going, but you see what I’m getting at. A good prompt is direct, goal oriented, specific, and creative. Use what you know about what you are searching for to get the most comprehensive results.
I asked ChatGPT what a good prompt should include, this is what it told me:
“Define the goal of the prompt: Before you begin crafting your prompt, it's essential to understand the goal you're trying to achieve. What action do you want the user to take? What information do you need from the user? Answering these questions will help you create prompts that are clear, concise, and effective.
Keep it simple: A prompt should be easy to understand and follow. Use simple language and avoid technical jargon. Use short, straightforward sentences and break up complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
Be specific: Provide clear instructions and details on what the user needs to do. For example, instead of saying "Enter your information," specify what information the user needs to provide.
Use positive language: Use positive language and avoid negative statements or language that can be interpreted in different ways. For example, instead of saying "Don't click the back button," say "Please continue to the next step."
Tailor your prompts:
Different audiences have different needs and preferences. Tailor your prompts to your specific audience by using language and terminology that they understand. Consider using different prompts for different user groups to make the experience more personalized.
Test and evaluate:
Once you've created your prompts, test them with a small group of users to identify any issues or areas that need improvement. Use this feedback to refine your prompts and make them more effective.”
Conclusion
Clearly, there is a method to get the best results out of ChatGPT. Think about it as your smart friend who takes everything literally. Define your goal, keep it simple, be specific and use positive language. It is easy to be lazy with ChatGPT, as it does most of the work for you, but, using your brain to elevate the information you put into the AI will in turn elevate the quality of results you get out of it.